Capsular contracture after breast augmentation--a comparison between gel- and saline-filled prostheses

Capsular contracture around the breast prostheses remains the major drawback to the otherwise very satisfying operation of breast augmentation. The possible aetiology of this complication is discussed and local aggravating factors are implicated. The two major types of modern breast prostheses are the Silastic gel-filled and the inflatable. A short-term retrospective clinical study was conducted on 79 augmented breasts to compare the contracture rate when using the gel-filled and the inflatable prostheses--90,7% of the gel-filled prostheses developed capsular contracture (the majority grade III), compared with 22,2% of the inflatables (the majority grade II). On the basis of this trial, we now only use inflatable prostheses for breast augmentation.