The fate of the fibrous capsule after saline implant removal

After removal of a silicone breast implant, if a capsulectomy is not perfor med, the residual capsule may persist, become calcified, and appear on rout ine mammograms. The fate of the capsule around saline implants is less clea r. The purpose of this study was to determine the fate of the capsule aroun d saline-filled implants in an animal model, Rats were implanted with 6-ml tissue expanders, which were left in place for 4 months. The implants were then removed and the capsules around the injection port (smooth surface) an d tissue expander (textured surface) were examined sequentially. The capsul es contracted and dissipated gradually over a year in association with a pe ricapsular vascular proliferation. It may not be necessary to perform a cap sulectomy at the time of saline implant removal.