A 10-Year Follow-Up Experience of 383 Patients with Bilateral Smooth Inflatable Breast Implants Filled with Saline Solution.

INTRODUCTION: In light of the concerns regarding the occurrence of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, seromas, and scar capsules, there appears to be merit in analysis and presentation of the results of our series of inflatable smooth implants filled with saline solution, for which the follow-up was more than 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We carried out a retrospective study, including all of the patients who underwent a first breast implant for cosmetic reasons, between 2003 and 2006. RESULTS: A total of 383 patients with 766 smooth implants filled with saline solution were included in our study. No cases of lymphoma and seroma were diagnosed. Eleven patients exhibited a postoperative hematoma, and four went on to develop a capsule. Twenty-two patients (5.7%) developed a Baker Grade III or IV capsule that required revision surgery. Two patients (0.5%) opted for a bilateral prosthesis replacement due to visual rippling. In total, there were 26 (3.4%) early deflations of prostheses. DISCUSSION: There is not a statistically significant correlation between the occurrence of hematomas and the formation of a capsule. We found a lower shell rate with smooth-walled versus textured implants. The fact of having a decline of 10 years allows to be exhaustive. As for wrinkling and ripples, their occurrence has not been increased by the use of inflatable retropectoral implants. CONCLUSION: Smooth inflatable implants filled with saline solution have numerous advantages such as the possibility of a very small approach route and perioperative adaptability of the volume. In light of the lack of indication of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma with smooth implants, they are clearly an attractive alternative to textured implants filled with silicone gel. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.