Breast Implant Illness: Treatment Using Total Capsulectomy and Implant Removal

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Systemic Illness
• Microbiology

Background:

• Breast implant illness (BII) is characterized by systemic symptoms in patients with breast implants.
• Patients often seek implant removal for symptom relief.
• Managing BII requires effective surgical strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the outcomes of total capsulectomy and breast implant removal in patients with BII.
• To provide insights for plastic surgeons managing BII.
• To assess the role of microbial findings in BII symptom resolution.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study (2016-2020) of 200 patients undergoing breast implant removal.
• Inclusion criteria: breast implants, mastodynia, capsular contracture.
• Exclusion criteria: reconstruction post-mastectomy, implant exchange.
• All patients underwent bilateral implant removal and total capsulectomies.

Main Results:

• 96% of patients with BII symptoms reported improvement or complete resolution post-procedure.
• Positive microbial cultures (68.5%) were associated with symptom improvement after treatment.
• Propionibacterium acnes was the most common organism (49.6%).

Conclusions:

• Implant removal with total capsulectomy significantly improves BII symptoms.
• Further prospective studies are needed to understand BII.
• Surgical intervention offers a viable treatment option for BII.