OBJECTIVEThe study was carried out through summarizing and comparing the percentages of long-term complications of four types breast implants, and analyzing the cause of complications.

METHODSThe study reviewed 573 patients with breast implants including textured or smooth silicone gel-filled or saline filled implants which were placed between 1993 and 2002. 427 cases were selected to followed-up in which the surgical technique, the plane of placement and the operator were all the same. Basing on outcomes of following-up, we summarized all kinds of long-term complications and the incidence of every type of implant.

RESULTSThere were 803 of 832 prostheses (94.24%) with good results in 427 cases, while 49 prostheses (5.76%) with varied complications in 42 cases. Baker level III or IV contracture occurred in 26 prostheses, reduction of the breast in 24 prostheses, malposition or pain in 10 prostheses. Rupture or leakage were detected in repeated surgery in 24 prostheses. The more severe capsular contracture happened in cases with silicone gel-filled implant than in cases with saline-filled implant. The reduction of the breast due to the rupture or leakage of implants almost occurred in cases with saline-filled implants. The study also implied the complication incidence had the positive correlation with the length of time after implantation.

CONCLUSIONSThe data provided by the statistic analysis demonstrated that the distinctly difference of the complication incidence exist only between smooth saline-filled implants and smooth silicone gel-filled implants. But there were no difference among the others. In 30 of 49 prostheses with varied complication of rupture or leakage were detected which could cause the other severe complication. So the quality of implants is the key to decrease the complication incidence, then the degeneration of prostheses after being implanted becomes the urgent and troublesome problem to solve for all of us.