Breast Implant Surfaces and Their Impact on Current Practices

Most commercially available breast implants feature some degree of elastomer surface modifications to increase surface roughness, in part because several clinical series have demonstrated positive outcomes from texturizing. However, the literature shows that textured implants support higher rates of bacterial growth, and there is a clear association between increased bacterial contamination and host response in vivo, such as capsular contracture. Furthermore, the infectious theory related to bacterial contamination has recently been described as a potential cause in the etiology of anaplastic large-cell lymphoma. Recent research has focused on the physiology of breast implant surfaces advances and how they interact with the body, creating new surface technologies which have the potential to affect all aspects of breast surgery. Understanding how surface properties affect inflammatory cell response will be essential in designing implants that can provide an esthetic solution while also minimizing long-term clinical complications. This special topic highlights the current knowledge on silicone implant surfaces, as well as innovations that have shaped and will continue to change the silicone breast implant industry in the future. It also provides an overview of the principal surfaces that exist and may find clinical applications in esthetic and reconstructive breast surgery. As additional advances emerge, objective tools will be required to evaluate the different surfaces available on the market, along with the long-term efficacy of new technologies.