Cosmetic Case Report Rupture of a Hydrogel-Filled Breast Implant

In the early 1960s, Cronin and Gerow began to use a silicone bag filled with silicone gel for breast augmentation. Since then, researchers have been looking for different filler materials. An ideal prosthesis does not induce any tissue reaction, is stable, gives the breast a natural appearance, and is radiolucent during mammography. In case of rupture of the envelope, the filler material should be biocompatible, nontoxic, noncarcinogenic, nonteratogenic, and easy to remove during operation. The advantage of using a silicone gel is the natural feeling of the implant and the chemical stability of the gel.1 Because of the radiodensity of silicone gel, there are difficulties in interpreting mammograms in women with silicone gel–filled implants, thus rendering them less reliable.2,3 Therefore, materials that were more radiolucent were tested.4,5 In 1992, U.S. the Food and Drug Administration restricted the use of silicone gel–filled breast implants in the United States because they feared silicone-associated diseases. Carboxyl methyl cellulose is a hydrogel used in the Monobloc breast implant (Laboratoires Arion, Lyon, France). As the manufacturer claims, the prosthesis feels natural, is nonallergenic, and induces less capsular contraction. The filler material is biodegradable and radiolucent.6 As a result, this filler material can be attractive in countries where the use of silicone-filled breast implants is limited by strict regulations. For patients with a higher risk of breast cancer, a more radiolucent breast implant is necessary for better interpretation of mammograms. Also, for patients anxious about carrying silicone material in their body, the hydrogel-filled breast implant can be an attractive alternative. CASE REPORT