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Back to the future: a 15-year experience with polyurethane foam-covered breast implants using the partial-subfascial
Jose Abel de la Peña-Salcedo1, Miguel Angel Soto-Miranda, Jose Fernando Lopez-Salguero
1Institute for Plastic Surgery, Vialidad de la Barranca S/N, Office 490, Huixquilucan, 52763, Mexico. abeldelapena@plasticsurgery.com.mx
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery
|December 20, 2011
Summary
Polyurethane foam-covered breast implants demonstrate excellent safety and aesthetic outcomes, with a very low rate of capsular contracture. Continued monitoring is recommended due to their potential reintroduction.
Area of Science:
- Plastic Surgery
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Polyurethane foam-covered implants have been used since 1970, showing benefits like low capsular contracture rates.
- Despite past concerns about cancer, evidence suggests polyurethane implants have similar complication rates to other breast implants, excluding transient rashes.
- With potential reintroduction in the US, long-term safety and effectiveness monitoring is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term safety and aesthetic outcomes of polyurethane foam-covered breast implants.
- To analyze the incidence of early and late complications associated with these implants.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study analyzed outcomes from 996 implants over 15 years.
- Complications and aesthetic results were systematically assessed.
Main Results:
- The study reported a 0.4% rate of capsular contracture and 0% polyurethane-related cancer.
- Other complications included hematoma (0.6%), infection (0.4%), seroma (0.8%), rash (4.3%), and implant rupture (0.7%).
- 95% of patients reported satisfaction with their aesthetic results.
Conclusions:
- Polyurethane foam-covered implants are safe for breast augmentation, offering the lowest capsular contracture rates.
- Excellent aesthetic results and a favorable safety profile support their continued use.
