Autoimmune Disease and Breast Implants: Systematic Review of Outcomes

Given that the use of breast implants for both cosmetic and reconstructive purposes is growing in the United States, an evaluation of factors that may affect the outcome of breast implant surgery is needed. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the question: Does a personal or family history of autoimmune disease affect outcomes in breast implant surgery? The literature search yielded 2425 records, but after removal of duplicates, abstract screening, and full-text assessment, only 2 studies met the inclusion criteria for the final review. Both studies provided level III evidence and the average Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies score was 16.5 (range, 15-18 of 24), indicating a fair level of evidence overall. This systematic review found no evidence to support that a diagnosis of an autoimmune disease and/or a family history of autoimmune diseases will lead to poor surgical outcomes in breast implant surgery. Further study is warranted.