Textured silicone breast implant use in primary augmentation 

Academical findings do not stay fixed but the details are changed as new findings and results come out. So the doctors pay careful attention to the new findings.
The doctors who do not study would not provide outmost result to the patients.
Also, science is something that “you might think correct, but can be mistaken”.
Medicine is a part of science.

Below is an article, released on January 2015, on “Textured silicone breast implant use in primary augmentation core data update and review"





It is stated that in 2013, there were about 290,000 breast augmentations done in US. This figure comes from American Society of Plastic Surgeons, so maybe the actual number may be greater. One of the most popular plastic surgeries around the world is breast augmentation.

The most common side-effects of breast augmentation are
Contracture, moving location, refilling, seroma, etc

Why is a contracture?

There are various reasons but the most commonly stated one is that the strain around the skin and the breast tissue comes in contact with the implant and this contaminated implant causes infection within the pocket.

How does textured implant minimize the contracture?

In theory, the texture physically breaks down the epithelium tissue, leading to the breakdown of the collagen fibers and reducing the epithelium. This is what we currently understand. 
(But using textured does not mean that you are completely free from the contracture)

What can you do if there is a contracture? 

The most effective method would be to cut off the epithelium. The epithelium incision would reduce the muscle tension so the cell that makes the epithelium would not grow and therefore not survive. 

Does the appearance of the textured implants differ according to different products?

Yes, they are different. The most widely used on is Allergan’s textured salt loss technique which leads to deeper and more textured surface.
Mentor’s textured uses imprinting technique which makes the surface little thinner and smooth. 

Does the anatomical type lead to less contracture?

Yes. The 5th generation tear-drop type implants have strong exterior with strong agglutinability on the inside therefore, it causes tension with the breast tissue and sticks together more firmly leading to lower possibility of contracture.

There are many who thinks that the tear-drop implant feels better.

Tear-drop type implant feels better because the implant / breast / epithelium all move together naturally. 

But the smooth type implant is relatively more separated from the epithelium therefore when you touch it the implant seems to be separated from the skin. 

(This comment does not apply to all patients. This applies more to those patients who gave birth) 




Some say the refilling is more common with textured type

There is still not much reference for this. We are short of data on this. 
The type of the implant do not matter, but thinner patients have higher possibility of refilling than those who are not.
Also there are some who say that more texture implants lead to more refilling than the smoother ones.


Then which type shall I use? Textured or smooth?

It is said that textured minimizes contracture and also limits rotation and movement of the implant. However, there is a higher possibility of seroma and more texture it is, there is higher chance of refilling as well.

I tend to use the textured implant more.

As a surgeon, it is more relaxing for me to use an implant that does not move or rotate easily.

Today, we share a little about the textured implants.

Thank you for reading.