Textured Breast Implants Buffalo
Posted November 06, 2009 in Breast Augmentation
Textured Implants vs Smooth Implants
Textured breast implant can lower capsular contracture rate
BUFFALO, NY – I just received my certification from Allergan Academy. This symposium was designed to bring you up to date on some of the latest findings on breast surgery. At this latest meeting in Seattle, Washington, data was presented to show that textured surfaced breast implants have a lower capsular contracture rate than smooth surfaced breast implants when placed under the breast tissue. Most plastic surgeons are well aware of this fact but definitive evidence was presented to confirm our clinical impressions.
Back in the ‘80s a breast implant was designed that had a textured polyurethane foam covering. It was known as the Meme or Replicon implant. This implant had an excellent tract record for preventing capsular contractures. Over time the polyurethane foam covering would breakdown in the body leaving the smooth breast implant. There was a debate at that time whether the texturing of the implant or the breakdown of the polyurethane by the body caused the contractures to be less. This debate is mute now since these implants were removed from the market and have been unavailable since the early ‘90s. Some experts believed that the polyurethane foam covered breast implants increased the risk of breast cancer in women. One of the breakdown products of the polyurethane was a chemical called TDA. This chemical was known to cause cancer in animals. After the completion of an FDA investigation the risk of developing cancer from polyurethane foam covered breast implants has been found to be relatively small.
One question that was not addressed was whether a textured implant offered the same benefits when placed under the muscle. Most practitioners agree that there is no advantage to using a textured breast implant under the muscle. It is hypothesized that the contraction of the chest muscles acts to compress the implant and display the implant inside its pocket. This mechanical massage appears to help prevent capsular contracture.