Mammary implants marketed by Poly Implant Prothese (PIP) were found to contain industrial grade silicone and this caused heightened anxiety and extensive publicity regarding their safety in humans. These implants were used in a large number of patients worldwide for augmentation or breast reconstruction. We reviewed articles identified by searches of Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar databases up to May 2014 using the terms: "PIP", "Poly Implant Prothese", "breast implants" and "augmentation mammoplasty" "siloxanes" or "silicone". In addition the websites of regulating bodies in Europe, USA, and Australia were searched for reports related to PIP mammary implants. PIP mammary implants are more likely to rupture than other implants and can cause adverse effects in the short to the medium term related to the symptoms of rupture such as pain, lumps in the breast and axilla and anxiety. Based on peer-reviewed published studies we have calculated an overall rupture rate of 14.5% (383/2,635) for PIP implants. However, there is no evidence that PIP implant rupture causes long-term adverse health effects in humans so far. Silicone lymphadenopathy represents a foreign body reaction and should be treated conservatively. The long-term adverse effects usually arise from inappropriate extensive surgery, such as axillary lymph node dissection or extensive resection of breast tissue due to silicone leakage.
Anxiety ; Australia ; Axilla ; Breast ; Breast Implantation ; Breast Implants* ; Europe ; Female ; Foreign-Body Reaction ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Mammaplasty ; Prosthesis Failure ; Rupture ; Silicone Gels

BACKGROUND: Breast auto-augmentation (BAA) using an inferior pedicle dermoglandular flap aims to redistribute the breast tissue in order to increase the fullness in the upper pole and enhance the central projection of the breast at the time of mastopexy in women who want to avoid implants. The procedure achieves mastopexy and an increase in breast volume. METHODS: Between 2003 and 2014, 107 BAA procedures were performed in 53 patients (51 bilateral, 2 unilateral and 3 reoperations) with primary or secondary ptosis of the breast associated with loss of fullness in the upper pole (n=45) or undergoing explantation combined with capsulectomy (n=8). Six patients (11.3%) had prior mastopexy and 2 (3.7%) patients had prior reduction mammoplasty. The mean patients' age was 41 years (range, 19-66 years). All patients had preoperative and postoperative photographs and careful preoperative markings. Follow-up ranged from 6 months to 9 years (mean, 6.6 months). RESULTS: The range of elevation of the nipple was from 6 to 12 cm (mean, 8 cm). The wounds healed completely with no complications in 50 (94.3%) patients. Three patients had complications including 2 (3.7%) hematomas and 1 (1.9%) partial necrosis of the nipple-areola complex. Three (5.7%) patients were dissatisfied with the level of mastopexy achieved underwent a further procedure. No patient complained of scar hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: BAA is a versatile technique for women with small breasts associated with primary or secondary ptosis. It is also an effective technique for the salvage of breasts after capsulectomy and explantation.
Breast* ; Cicatrix ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Mammaplasty ; Necrosis ; Nipples ; Retrospective Studies* ; Surgical Flaps ; Wounds and Injuries

Lipofilling is a reconstructive and aesthetic technique that has recently grown in popularity and is increasingly being used in breast surgery. Previous concerns had been raised regarding its safety when used for remodelling and reconstruction of the breast; however, these concerns have since been dismissed. Over the subsequent two decades, little evidence has been found to support these early theoretical concerns, and growing numbers of proponents of the procedure are confident in its safety. Many developments and refinements in the technique have taken place in recent years, and several studies have been published regarding the safety of lipofilling in the breast. We reviewed the current literature regarding the use of different lipofilling techniques as well as the current evidence regarding the oncological safety of the procedure in patients seeking aesthetic breast enhancement and in patients requiring reconstruction after treatment for breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Humans ; Lipectomy ; Mammaplasty ; Transplantation