Breast Implants Talk

it is likely that you will need to have one or more reoperations over the course of your life because of local complications from breast implants.

Reasons for reoperations could include any of the potential local complications bulleted above, such as capsular contracture, wrinkling, asymmetry, rupture/deflation, implant malposition, etc.

The type of surgical procedure(s) performed during the reoperation depends on the local complication involved. More than one procedure may be performed in a single reoperation. Examples of the types of surgical procedures that may be performed in a reoperation include:

• implant removal with or without replacement

• capsule procedure (e.g., removal or surgical release of the capsule)

• scar or wound revision (e.g., surgical removal of excess scar tissue)

• drainage of a hematoma (e.g., inserting a needle or tube through the skin to drain the collection of blood)

• repositioning of the implant (e.g., surgically opening the incision and moving the implant)

• biopsy/cyst removal (e.g., inserting a needle through the skin or cutting through the skin to remove a lump).

Multiple reoperations to either improve the appearance of the breasts, to remove ruptured/deflated implants, or both may result in an unsatisfactory cosmetic outcome.

A retrospective study by Gabriel, et al. showed that 24% of women with breast implants had complications resulting in a reoperation during the first five years after implantation (silicone and saline implants were studied together). ⁷ According to this study, about 1 in 3 women getting breast implants for reconstruction needed a reoperation within five years, and about 1 in 8 women getting breast implants for augmentation needed a reoperation within five years.

Prospective studies of saline-filled breast implants approved by FDA in May 2000 showed reoperation rates of 13-21% at 3 years and 20-26% at 5 years for augmentation patients. The same studies showed reoperation rates of 39-40% at 3 years and 43-45% at 5 years for reconstruction patients.

Source: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)