Risk Factors for Explantation of Breast Implants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Explantation of breast implant surgery (EBIS) is an emerging surgical field. Precise information about patients undergoing EBIS is important for preoperative planning of breast, augmentation, complications management, and to address any medicolegal issues.

The aim of this study was to further extend current knowledge of EBIS risk factors.

An analytic cross-sectional study was conducted involving patients who had previously undergone cosmetic breast augmentation and were seeking EBIS.

The study recruited 138 patients. The average time from implant placement and decision to explantation was 59.1 months. On average, each 1-year increase in age resulted in a 4% increase in the relative risk (RR) of explantation (confidence interval (CI), 1.07-1.21). Patients who were obese or overweight present a 1.5 times higher risk of EBIS (CI 95%, 1.03-2.29). On average, this RR was 40% lower (CI 95%, 0.33-0.91) in patients who never smoked compared with those with a history of tobacco use. Women with mastalgia had a 72% higher RR for EBIS (CI 95%, 1.11-2.65). The RR of EBIS was 5.6 times higher (CI 95%, 2.42-11.47) in patients presenting major Shoenfeld's criteria for autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA). The RR of EBIS was 4.3 times higher (CI 95%, 1.96-8.63) in patients presenting minor Shoenfeld's criteria for ASIA.

EBIS poses a higher risk to patients who are overweight/obese, have a history of tobacco use, suffer from mastalgia, or present Shoenfeld's criteria for ASIA. It is important to assess properly these individuals before performing implant surgery for breast augmentation.