Smooth vs. rough: an 8-year survey of mammary prostheses

One-hundred and seventy patients (124 augmentations and 46 reconstructions) were followed for 8 post-operative years. Ninety patients received the "standard" smooth silicone mammary prosthesis, and 80 patients received a polyurethane-covered prosthesis. The longest follow-up was 4 years and the shortest was 1 year, with the average just over 2 years. Six types of complications were registered, with three attributed to implant design (wrinkles, draping, capsules) and three to the operator or surgery (infection, hematoma, extrusion). Firm capsule formation was considered a complication only if another intervention (reoperation, closed capsulotomy, etc.) was recommended by the surgeon or requested by the patient. Ninety-six percent of the patients with polyurethane prostheses had a satisfactory (grade II) or better than satisfactory (grade IA or IB) result, whereas 72 percent of the patients with a standard silicone-gel prosthesis achieved a satisfactory (grade II) or better than satisfactory (grade IA or IB) result. Technical details for use of polyurethane prostheses are given, as well as complications inherent to the polyurethane-covered implant.