Trilucent breast implants: a 3 year series

The use of Trilucent breast implants in the UK dates back to 1995 and their introduction coincided with the medium-term effects of the silicone-implan t controversy. We present a review of 3 years' experience of the Trilucent implant (1996-1998) during which 29 patients with a mean age of 39.4 years had a total of 50 implants. The aim of the study was to analyse the results in these patients in terms of complications, reoperation rate and patient satisfaction. Using a combination of retrospective chart analysis and posta l survey, we found an incidence of implant deflation of 10% (5/50). The ove rall reoperation rate was 20% (10/50). The postal survey yielded a mean sat isfaction score of 7.1 ton a scale of 0-10) from the 20 respondents out of the 29 patients (68.9%). In view of the high complication rate, we disconti nued the use of Trilucent implants in advance of their withdrawal by the Me dical Devices Agency (MDA) in March 1999. However, these findings may now b e considered of added interest, particularly with regard to patients who ar e opting to keep their Trilucent implants despite the recommendation of the MDA in June 2000 that such implants should be removed. (C) 2001 The Britis h Association of Plastic Surgeons.