Breast Implants

Usually women think of silicone breast implants when it comes to breast augmentation. However, there are other plastic surgery techniques such as muscle flaps using different techniques (Ref. 7, p.595). This can be done in breast cancer patients where a larger piece of tissue has to be removed or for cosmetic breast surgery (breast reduction surgery or breast enlargement surgery).

Breast implants are useful in cosmetic breast surgery in order to achieve symmetrical appearance. However, silicone implants cannot be tolerated by every woman. In a large study where patients with silicone breast implants were followed from 1985 to 1998 no connection could be found to developing rheumatoid arthritis later (Ref.10, p. 969). A review of the world literature showed that there is no connection between rheumatological diseases and silicone breast implants (Ref.11).

Nevertheless there can be a silicone breast implant problem that can develop. Ref. 8 (p. 1098) describes inflammatory changes that develop around the intact silicone breast implant.

This leads to a fibrous cyst, which walls off the regular tissue from the implant. In case of mini leaks, the body forms new fibrous tissue around the silicone, which walls off minor leaks. Years later the fibrous capsule can get calicified and this may be felt occasionally as dyscomfort. For lack of better term this was labeled "silicone breast implant syndrome", but it is not really accepted in the literature as a disease entity at this time. There is no report in humans that silcone gel would migrate around to other locations in the body as some animal experiments have suggested (Ref. 8, p. 1098).

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Women's Health

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Disclaimer

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References

1. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 235.

2. B. Sears: "Zone perfect meals in minutes". Regan Books, Harper Collins, 1997.

3. Ryan: Kistner's Gynecology & Women's Health, 7th ed.,1999 Mosby, Inc.

4. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 245.

5. AB Diekman et al. Am J Reprod Immunol 2000 Mar; 43(3): 134-143.

6. V Damianova et al. Akush Ginekol (Sofia) 1999; 38(2): 31-33.

7. Townsend: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery,16th ed.,2001, W. B. Saunders Company

8. Cotran: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, 6th ed., 1999 W. B. Saunders Company

9. Rakel: Conn's Current Therapy 2001, 53rd ed., W. B. Saunders Co.

10. Ruddy: Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, 6th ed.,2001 W. B. Saunders Company

11. EC Janowsky et al. N Engl J Med Mar-2000; 342(11): 781-790.

12. Wilson: Williams Textbook of Endocrinology, 9th ed.,1998 W. B. Saunders Company

13. KS Pena et al. Am Fam Physician 2001; 63(9): 1763-1770.

14. LM Apantaku Am Fam Physician Aug 2000; 62(3): 596-602.

15. Noble: Textbook of Primary Care Medicine, 3rd ed., 2001 Mosby, Inc.

16. Goroll: Primary Care Medicine, 4th ed.,2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

17. St. Paul's Hosp. Contin. Educ. Conf. Nov. 2001,Vancouver/BC

18. Gabbe: Obstetrics - Normal and Problem Pregnancies, 3rd ed., 1996 Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

19. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 251.

20. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 250.

21. Ignaz P Semmelweiss: "Die Aetiologie, der Begriff und die Prophylaxis des Kindbettfiebers" ("Etiology, the Understanding and Prophylaxis of Childbed Fever"). Vienna (Austria), 1861.

22. Rosen: Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice, 4th ed., 1998 Mosby-Year Book, Inc.

23. Mandell: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed., 2000 Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

24. Horner NK et al. J Am Diet Assoc Nov-2000; 100(11): 1368-1380.

Last Modified: Dec. 21, 2007