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Semin Plast Surg 2000; 14(1): 77-85
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8423
Current Controversies

© 2000 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc.

Saline Implants-Where Are We?

Henrik Menke, Günter Germann
  • H.M., Associate Professor of Surgery; G.G., Head, Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, Burn Center, BG Trauma Center, Ludwigshafen; Department of Plastic and Hand Surgery, The University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

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ABSTRACT

Saline-filled implants have been used for more than 30 years, until 1992 not very often, but after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration moratorium nearly exclusively in the United States. Experiences with these implants increased considerably with about 70,000 implants per year. Based on the actual literature the results available about saline implants were analyzed. The incidence of implant failure by deflation is about 5 to 15%, significantly reduced compared with former results, and depending mostly on the length of follow-up. Up to now there is no clear standard for the ideal fill volume to avoid the complication of wrinkling or unnatural firmness. The discussion about the best way to avoid the high incidence of capsular contractures, optimal implant position, and texture and structure of the shell is also still going on controversially.

Keywords

Saline implants - breast augmentation - deflation - wrinkling - capsular contracture

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