The injection-adjustable mammary implant

A double-lumen mammary implant with a custom-made injection valve has been used for patients requesting augmentation mammaplasty since September 1978. The valve allows the alteration of concentration of intraluminal steroids depending upon the clinical response. When capsular contracture occurs the steroid concentration is increased; if a too large breast pocket develops or tissue atrophy occurs the steroid concentration is reduced. The alteration is carried out by an injection technique. An assessment of the first three years of experience with the implant was based on studies of 311 breasts (158 patients, 5 unilateral) followed for at least twelve months. Of these, 224 breasts (113 patients, 2 unilateral) were first-time augmentations, and temporary episodes of capsular contracture occurred during the first twelve months in 23.7% where there was no maintenance steroid, in 17.6% where 5 mg of Solu-Medrol/40 ml was used as initial maintenance steroid, and in 7.8% where 10 mg of Solu-Medrol/40 ml was used as initial maintenance steroid. This custom implant would facilitate the use of antibiotics or other implant additives which in the future may protect the implant from capsular contracture. A double-lumen mammary implant with a custom-made injection valve has been described under the title "Steroid-adjustable mammary implant" [2]. The advent of intralumenal antibiotics [1] prompted the adoption of a more general title for this article.