Evaluation of Silicone Particle Migration Among Women Undergoing Silicone Breast Augmentation Removal or Revision in the Netherlands.

JAMA Netw Open. 2021;4(9):e2125381. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.25381

Commentary

This study was conducted to evaluate the presence of silicone gel bleeding and migration over a long period of time, including the period when the new adhesive silicone gel breast implants were used.

For the study, capsule tissue and lymph node samples were collected from women who underwent silicone breast augmentation removal or revision between January 1, 1986 and August 18, 2020.

A total of 365 women had their capsular tissue removed, including 15 patients who also had their lymph nodes removed, 24 women had only their lymph nodes removed, and the data were analyzed from January to May 2021.

The results showed that out of a total of 389 women who underwent silicone breast augmentation, 384 women (98.8%) had silicone particles in their tissues, indicating silicone gel bleeding.

In 337 women (86.6%), silicone particles were observed outside the capsule, indicating silicone migration, and in 47 women (12.1%), silicone particles were only present inside the capsule.

In five women (1.2%), no silicone particles were detected in the tissue.

The patients were then divided into two groups: 46 women had adhesive silicone gel breast implants, and 343 women had older or newer types of breast implants, but there was no difference in silicone gel bleeding or migration between the groups.

These results show that in this case series, which included women who underwent non-adhesive and adhesive silicone gel breast implants, silicone leakage occurred in 98.8% of women, indicating silicone gel bleeding, and migration of silicone particles outside the capsule was detected in 86.6% of women.