Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Changes over Time in Mammary Compliance Values After Breast Augmentation

  • Published:
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Capsular contracture is the most troublesome and distressing complication after breast augmentation for both the surgeon and patient. The etiology of capsular contracture remains unclear. Clinical treatment for this complication is based on the surgeon’s evaluation, the condition of the breast, and a number of other factors. In a previous study, the authors investigated whether measurement of mammary compliance as a means of assessing capsular contracture was comparable with other methods described for the assessment of capsular contracture. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether capsular contracture varies significantly over time. A prospective study was performed to measure mammary compliance in 60 female patients who received a total of 120 implants between 2000 and 2002. The implants used were anatomic prostheses filled with cohesive silicone gel and round double-lumen prostheses filled with silicone gel and saline solution. All the patients were followed up for at least 2 years. Statistical analysis of the data also was performed to assess significance. The results showed a general trend in mammary compliance values over time.

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

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Alfano C, Costantini M, Mazzocchi M: Clinical examination and follow-up of mammary implants. Eur Plast Surg Rew 4:4–8, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  2. Alfano C, Mazzocchi M, Scuderi N: Mammary compliance: An objective measurement of capsular contracture. Aesth Plast Surg 28:75–79, 2004

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Baker JL: Augmentation mammoplasty. In: Owsley JQ, Peterson R (eds) Symposium on aesthetic surgery of the breast. Mosby: St Louis, pp. 125–152, 1978

    Google Scholar 

  4. Baker JL: Classification of spherical contractures. Read at the Aesthetic Breast Symposium, Scottsdale, Arizona, 1975

    Google Scholar 

  5. Becker H, Springer R: Prevention of capsular contracture. Plast Reconstr Surg 103:1766–1768, 1999

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Burkhardt BR, Schhnur PL Tofield JJ, Dempsey PD: An objective clinical assessment of fibrosus capsular contracture. Plast Reconstr Surg 69:794–799, 1982

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Camirand A, Doucet J, Harris J: Breast augmentation: Compression: A very important factor in preventing capsular contracture. Plast Reconstr Surg 104:529–538, 1999

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Chandler PJ, Jr. Talc and capsular contracture. Ann Plast Surg 52:288–292, 2004

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Codner MA, Cohen AT, Hester TR: Complication in breast augmentation: Prevention and correction. Clin Plast Surg 28:587–596, 2001

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Collis N, Sharpe D: Recurrence of subglandular breast implant capsular contracture: Anterior versus total capsulectomy. Plast Reconstr Surg 106:792–797, 2000

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Eisenmann-Klein M: Breast implants: The past, the present, the future. Eur Plast Surg Rew 3:33–43, 1999

    Google Scholar 

  12. Fagrell D, Berggren A, Tarpila E: Capsular contracture around saline-filled fine textured and smooth mammary implants: A prospective 7.5-year follow-up. Plast Reconstr Surg 108:2108–2112, 2001

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Gylbert LO: Applanation tonometry for the evaluation of breast compressibility. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 23:223–229, 1989

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Gylbert LO: Constant compression caliper for objective measurement of breast capsular contracture. Scand J Plast Reconstr Surg Hand Surg 23:137–142, 1989

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hayes H, McLeod P: Indentation tonometry of the breasts. Plast Reconstr Surg 63:13–21, 1979

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hoflehner H, Pierer G: Subjective and objective assessment of capsular contracture. Eur J Plast Surg 17:69–74, 1994

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hoflehner H, Pierer G, Rehak P: Mammary compliance: An objective technique for measuring capsular fibrosis. Plast Reconstr Surg 80:1078–1084, 1993

    Google Scholar 

  18. Moore JR. Applanation tonometry of breasts. Plast Reconstr Surg 63:9–12, 1979

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Mulder JW, Nicolai JP: Breast tonometry: A practical device for accurate measurement of capsule formation. Eur J Plast Surg 13:274–282, 1990

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Rehak PH, Glanzer H: “ Mamma compliance transmitter”: A novel instrument for the objective measurement of the degree of capsular fibrosis following breast prosthesis implantation. Phys Med Biol 39a(Part 2):574–581, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  21. Rohrich R, Kenkel J, Adams W: Preventing capsular contracture in breast augmentation: In Search of the Holy Grail. Plast Reconstr Surg 103:1759–1760, 1999

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ulrich D, Lichtenegger F, Eblenkamp M, Repper D, Pallua N: Matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases, aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type III, and hyaluronan in sera and tissue of patients with capsular contracture after augmentation with trilucent breast implants. Plast Reconstr Surg 114:229–236, 2004

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University “La Sapienza” Rome, Rome, Italy

    Marco Mazzocchi M.D., Ph.D., Carmine Alfano M.D., Paolo Fioramonti M.D. & Nicolò Scuderi M.D.

  2. Marco Mazzocchi, Via Portuense 331, 00149, Roma, Italy

    Marco Mazzocchi M.D., Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Marco Mazzocchi M.D., Ph.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Carmine Alfano M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Paolo Fioramonti M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nicolò Scuderi M.D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marco Mazzocchi M.D., Ph.D..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mazzocchi, M., Alfano, C., Fioramonti, P. et al. Changes over Time in Mammary Compliance Values After Breast Augmentation. Aesth Plast Surg 30, 198–205 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-005-0165-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00266-005-0165-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation