Rate and incidence of capsular contracture: a comparison of smooth and textured silicone double-lumen breast prostheses

Plast Reconstr Surg. 1991 May;87(5):879-84. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199105000-00012.

Abstract

Capsular contracture results in dissatisfaction and deformity among the 2 million women who have had silicone implants. The literature describes contracture rates as high as 74 percent. I present a comparison of rates and incidences of contracture in patients augmented with smooth and textured double-lumen silicone implants. A total of 165 "smooth" and 63 "textured" implant patients were included in this study, which spans 12 years, 1978-1990. All patients underwent bilateral aesthetic augmentation performed by the same surgeon. Of the 165 smooth implant patients, 74 (44.8 percent) experienced contractures requiring treatment. Of the 63 textured implant patients, 3 (4.8 percent) previous contracture patients experienced sudden fibrosis within 3 months. All others remained soft. It appears that deeply textured silicone surfaces delay or decrease the rate and incidence of clinical capsular contracture, at least for 2 years.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Breast / surgery*
  • Contracture / epidemiology
  • Contracture / prevention & control*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control*
  • Prostheses and Implants*
  • Prosthesis Design
  • Silicones*

Substances

  • Silicones