Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of cortisone on capsular contracture in double-lumen breast implants: Ten years' experience

  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Two groups of patients are compared with respect to capsular contracture after insertion of silicone breast prostheses. Six hundred seventy four women received single-lumen gel prostheses and 700 received double-lumen prostheses with cortisone. The addition of 12.5 mg of prednisolone to double-lumen prostheses diminished capsular contracture (Baker II to IV) dramatically; in patients with simple augmentation from 19% to 4.9%, in patients with subcutaneous mastectomy from 54% to 14.9%, and in patients with breast reconstruction from 64% to 24.4%. The use of double-lumen implants has three distinct advantages: (l) There is no bleeding and therefore no contact of the body with the silicone gel. (2) There is no danger of ruptured implants, even if the outer shell shows leakage. (3) if prednisolone is administered, capsular contracture is prevented to a significant degree.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Baker JL, Bartels RJ, Douglas WM: Closed compression technique for rupturing a contracted capsule around breast implants. Plast Reconstr Surg 58:137, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ben Ari J: Klinische Daten zur Kapselkontraktur um Silikonimplantate in der weiblichen Brust. Thesis, University of Frankfurt, 1982

  3. Burkhardt BR, Dempsey PD, Schnur PL, Tofield JJ: Capsular contracture: A prospective study of the effect of local antibacterial agents. Plast Reconstr Surg 77:919, 1986

    Google Scholar 

  4. Courtiss EH: The fate of breast implants with infections around them. Plast Reconstr Surg 63:912, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cruz G, Gillooley JF, Waxman M: Silicone granulomas of the breast. NY J Med 85:599, 1985

    Google Scholar 

  6. Eder H, Lejour M, Smahel J: Steroid-related complications of double-lumen prostheses with cortisone. Chir Plast 6:95, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  7. Ellenberg AH, Braun H: A 3 1/2 year experience with double lumen implants in breast surgery. Plast Reconstr Surg 65:307, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ferreira JA: The various etiological factors of “hard capsule” formation in breast augmentations. Aesth Plast Surg 8:109, 1984

    Google Scholar 

  9. Gayou R, Rudolph R: Capsular contraction around silicone mammary prostheses-an overview. Ann Plast Surg 2:62, 1979

    Google Scholar 

  10. Hartley JH: Specific applications of the double lumen prosthesis. Clin Plast Surg 3:247, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  11. Herzog P: Silicone granulomas: detection by ultrasonography. Plast Reconstr Surg 84:856, 1989

    Google Scholar 

  12. Lemperle G: Unfavourable results after breast reconstruction with silicone implants. Acta Chir Belg 79:159, 1980

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lemperle G, Nievergelt J: Plastic and Reconstructive Breast Surgery. Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  14. Morykwas MJ, Argenta LC, Oneal RM, Kaiser DG: The fate of soluble steroids within breast prostheses in humans. Ann Plast Surg 24:427, 1990

    Google Scholar 

  15. Moucharafieh BC, Wray RC: The effect of steroid instillations and hematomas on the pseudosheaths around miniature breast implants in rats. Plast Reconstr Surg 54:28, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  16. Perrin ER: The use of soluble steroids within inflatable breast prostheses. Plast Reconstr Surg 57:163, 1976

    Google Scholar 

  17. Peterson HE, Burt GB: The role of steroids in the prevention of circumferential scarring in augmentation mammoplasty. Plast Reconstr Surg 54:28, 1974

    Google Scholar 

  18. Reinmüller J, Lemperle G: Zur Biokompatibilität von Silikon-Weichteil-Implantaten. Meeting German Society of Senology, Munich, 1986

  19. Shah Z, Lehman JA, Tan J: Does infection play a role in breast capsular contracture. Plast Reconstr Surg 68:34, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  20. Spahn I: Brustrekonstruktion nach Ablatio mammae and ihre Komplikationen. Thesis, University of Frankfurt, 1986

  21. Spear SL, Matsuba H, Romm S, Little JW: Methyl prednisolone in double lumen gel-saline submuscular mammary prostheses: a double-blind, prospective, controlled clinical trial. Plast Reconstr Surg 87:483, 1991

    Google Scholar 

  22. Spitalny HH, Lemperle G, Radu D: Reconstruction of the breast by advancement of abdominal skin. Chir Plast 6:87, 1981

    Google Scholar 

  23. Vinnik CA: Spherical contracture of fibrous capsules around the breast implants. Plast Reconstr Surg 58:555, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, St. Markus Hospital, D-6000, Frankfurt (M) 50, Federal Republic of Germany

    Gottfried Lemperle M.D. & Klaus Exner M.D.

Authors
  1. Gottfried Lemperle M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Klaus Exner M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lemperle, G., Exner, K. Effect of cortisone on capsular contracture in double-lumen breast implants: Ten years' experience. Aesth. Plast. Surg. 17, 317–323 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437105

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437105

Key words

Search

Navigation