Cosmetic and postmastectomy breast implants: Finnish women's experiences

The purpose of this study was to compare women's satisfaction with and shor t-term problems of silicone breast implants after cosmetic breast augmentat ion and after mastectomy. Women (n = 224) were recruited through advertisin g in mass media, and 91% responded to a questionnaire asking for their expe riences, both positive and negative, with silicone breast implants. Approxi mately equal numbers of women received their implants for cosmetic reasons (augmentation group) and postmastectomy (113 and 111, respectively). Mean t ime from first implantation was 9 years (SD 7.3) In the cosmetic group and 8 years (SD 4.9) in the postmastectomy group. Women in the postmastectomy g roup received their implants at an older age than women in the cosmetic gro up (percent of women 45 and older, 59% and 3%, respectively). Women's overa ll preoperative knowledge of and postoperative satisfaction with their impl ants were similar in the two groups; 58% of women said that they had insuff icient knowledge of breast implants preoperativlely, 26% of women said they would not choose the implants again, and 44% of women expressed no dissati sfaction with their breasts. However, women in the cosmetic group were bett er informed about possible physical problems. One third of the women in the postmastectomy group had one or more reoperations, most frequently because of implant slippage (30%), encapsulation (26%), or implant size and shape (23%). Because insertion of breast implants is a lifelong decision, in-dept h counseling about complication rates and possible risks should be given to women before implantation, and nonsurgical alternatives should be discusse d, particularly for cosmetic implantation.