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Implants

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Prothetic implants can be used to reconstruct the breast after mastectomy for breast cancer. They may be placed in a subcutaneous or subpectoral position. Generally, the latter is preferred as there is a tendency to complications such as extrusion and skin necrosis with subcutaneous positioning. It is now possible to create a pocket for the implant using endoscopic techniques from an axillary incision.

Problems related to implants include:

capsule formation of fibrous tissue around the implant:
- may cause pain and distortion of the breast
- may necessitate removal of implant and excision of capsule with or without insertion of new implants
leakage of gel filling from implant:
- leak of silicone has been suggested as a cause of connective tissue disease; the evidence is poor
- necessitates removal of implant
implant 'riding up' into the superior half of the breast: usually because a pocket of suitable size has not been created
patient feels that the breast does not have the normal consistency of original breast tissue

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