Reasons for Silicone Breast Implant Removal After Long-Term Implantation in Chinese Patients Without Complications: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Shilu Yin; Bi Li

doi:10.1007/s00266-024-04026-w

Reasons for Silicone Breast Implant Removal After Long-Term Implantation in Chinese Patients Without Complications: A Questionnaire-Based Study

Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2024 Apr 26. doi: 10.1007/s00266-024-04026-w. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Shilu Yin¹, Bi Li²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
² Department of Plastic Surgery, Peking University Third Hospital, 49 North Garden Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China. libi0377@126.com.

PMID: 38671241
DOI: 10.1007/s00266-024-04026-w

Abstract

Background: There are few studies of Chinese patients who request silicone breast implant removal after at least 10 years of implantation without any complications. This study aimed to study the characteristics of these patients, explore their reasons for breast implant removal and associate factors that affect their choice, so as to provide valuable information on clinical decision making.

Methods: A total of 55 eligible female patients (110 breasts) were enrolled from 2016 to 2022. A preoperative questionnaire survey before removal surgery and a telephone follow-up 1 year after removal surgery were conducted to collect data.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 40.6±8.8 years with the average time from breast augmentation to implant removal or replacement ranged from 10 to 15 years. Concerns about the aging of silicone gel-filled breast implant and the adverse effects of its long-term placement on body health were the top two reasons for breast implant removal. 63% of patients refused implant replacement, who were nearly 10 years older than those accepted implant replacement (p<0.05). Older age at implant removal (OR=0.67; 95%CI: 0.44-0.89) and a history of basic diseases (OR=0.02; 95%CI: 0.00-0.39) were statistically associated with lower rate of implant replacement.

Conclusions: Concerns about the aging of silicone gel-filled breast implant were the main reason for uncomplicated patients to remove their breast implants. A comprehensive analysis based on patient's subjective choice and physical condition was suggested when an uncomplicated patient asks for implant removal.

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 .

Keywords: Complication; Implant removal; Implant replacement; Silicone gel-filled breast implant.