Abstract

This review aims at presenting problems related to potential long-term complications of cosmetic breast augmentation and reduction surgery. The silicone-gel prothesis was initially used in the early 1960s, however, after some twenty years there arose suspicion concerning the safety of silicone. In 1992, the use of such implants for cosmetic reasons was banned. Currently, approximately 163,000 women in the USA undergo cosmetic breast augmentation surgery annually. A typical breast augmentation patient has a middle socioeconomic status, is in her 30s, married and has children; she reports increased body image dissatisfaction. The most frequent local complication is capsular contracture. From the medical viewpoint, systemic long-term complications of the breast implant are more important. Epidemiological studies have not ruled out a relationship between autoimmune diseases and silicone-gel breast implants, yet association with neurological as well as standard connective tissue diseases have not been found. Breast cancer risk for women with augmented breasts is not increased, while the relationship with other cancer sites is unclear. As the patients seeking plastic surgery are generally healthier than their peers, women with breast implants have substantially lower mortality than general population. There exists no evidence of a relationship between maternal breast implant and the risk of adverse health outcomes in offspring. Reduction mammoplasty, apart from its cosmetic effect, relieves woman from physical discomfort. Findings also indicate that bilateral breast reduction surgery is associated with a lower subsequent risk of breast cancer. The results of the studies so far published to not allow to confirm or refute the statement concerning the safety of silicone-gel breast implants.