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Related Experiment Videos

Strength of silicone breast implants

J W Phillips1, D L de Camara, M D Lockwood

  • 1Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
|May 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Silicone breast implant shells weaken over time, with rupture common after 10 years. Mechanical testing reveals reduced strength in older, thin-shelled implants, impacting device longevity.

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Medical Device Engineering
  • Plastic Surgery Research

Background:

  • Silicone breast implants are associated with rupture and leakage.
  • Limited data exists on the long-term durability and lifespan of silicone implant shells.
  • Understanding implant shell strength is crucial for patient safety and device design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanical strength and breaking force of silicone breast implant shells.
  • To correlate implant shell strength with implantation time, condition, and shell characteristics.
  • To provide data on the degradation of silicone breast implant shells over time.

Main Methods:

  • Mechanical testing of 30 explanted silicone breast implant shells (29 explanted, 1 control).

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  • Testing included implants with varying implantation times (4 months to 20 years) and conditions (intact, leaking, ruptured).
  • Breaking force was measured in Newtons (N) and pounds (lb) to assess shell integrity.

    • Main Results:

    • Explanted shells exhibited breaking forces ranging from 2.6 to 22.4 N (0.6 to 5.0 lb).
    • All ruptured implants had been in place for 10 years or longer.
    • Thin-shelled implants aged 10-16 years showed the weakest performance, with over half failing below 1 lb of force.
    • Ruptured shells demonstrated lower average breaking force compared to intact shells.

    Conclusions:

    • Silicone breast implant shell strength significantly decreases with prolonged implantation time.
    • Implant age, shell thickness, and type are critical factors influencing shell durability.
    • The findings suggest a potential correlation between shell degradation and the incidence of rupture and leakage over time.