Growing demand for silicone breast explants: a new scenario for breast surgery

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Removal of silicone breast implants is a surgery with increasing notoriety. Advances in studies on BIA-ALCL lymphoma (Breast Implant Associated Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma) and inflammatory/autoimmune pathologies related to implants, such as ASIA syndrome (Autoimmune Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants), has generated discomfort in many patients who opt for their removal. This demand brings to the surgeon an often challenging scenario, in which it is necessary to return the breasts to an anatomical and aesthetically pleasing shape after the removal of this material. The objective is to demonstrate surgical strategies for silicone breast explantation.

Methods:

Twenty patients who underwent breast explantation between September 2020 and March 2021 were evaluated, including simple explants and those associated with mastopexy. The surgical indication was the explicit demand of the patients, motivated by complaints such as fear of associated pathologies, aesthetic dissatisfaction, discomfort in the breasts, systemic symptoms, desire not to have more implants, capsular contracture, rotation or rupture thereof. Surgical techniques are described.

Results:

A simple explant was performed in 7 patients, and an explant with mastopexy was performed in 13. In 17 patients, it was associated with fat grafting. Capsulectomy was performed in all cases. We use the inferior pedicle dermoglandular flap in mastopexies to preserve breast tissue associated with fat grafting.

Conclusion:

The techniques described can restore a satisfactory shape to the breasts, with low complication rates and a good level of patient acceptance. Although the pathologies related to silicone implants have shown to be statistically rare, we must be attentive to symptoms and capable of offering surgical options for the explant.

Keywords:
Breast implants; Mammoplasty; Breast diseases; Reconstructive surgical procedures; Autografts