Reducing Capsular Contracture Formation in Breast Augmentation with Silicone Implants: Experimental Study on Rats

Abstract

Silicone implants are frequently used for breast augmentation and reconstruction. However, late complication, such as capsular contracture, remain the most important side effect. In this study we compare different methods for reducing the inflammatory reaction around the silicone implant by introducing one microtextured breast implant in wistar rats. The rats were dividing in 4 groups: the first one was the control group that received untreated implant; in the second we used silicone implants impregnated with rifampin solution, the third one had implant combined with intramuscular dexamethasone injection and the last one had silicone implant associated with autologous centrifuged fat introduced in the implant pocket. The implants and the capsular tissue surrounding were removed after eight weeks. Capsule samples were submitted to histological evaluations. The present study demonstrated that fat grafting may have a role in reducing and preventing capsular contractures after breast augmentation with silicone implants by decreasing the inflammatory process.

Fat grafting in autologous breast reconstruction: applications, outcomes, safety, and complications

“…There have been very few mechanistic rationales provided as to why fat grafting improves fibrosis; however, the above studies postulated regenerative factors produced by tissue after grafting. This aligns well with preclinical research showing that lipoaspirate particles continue to secrete high concentrations of growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and antiinflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 in hypoxic environments that occur immediately after graft injection [114][115][116] , which may improve the recipient tissue health. However, significantly more research is needed in this area.…”

A Histological Evaluation of the Efficiency of Using Periprosthetic Autologous Fat to Prevent Capsular Contracture Compared to Other Known Methods—An Experimental Study

“…The purely infectious etiology of capsular contracture is questioned by the reporting of positive bacterial cultures in peri-implant capsules in patients without capsular contracture. Other preventive and risk-reduction methods for capsular contracture are mentioned in the literature, including the use of steroids and immunomodulators to combat inflammation [ 45 , 46 ].…”