WHY DO WE CONTINUE USING MICROTEXTURED BREAST IMPLANTS? A CHOICE BASED ON SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE

Breast implant surgery, for aesthetic or restorative purposes, continues to be one of the most popular procedures within plastic surgery. Breast implants (BI) can be defined as implantable medical devices used for breast augmentation or breast reconstruction. In 2016, the WHO recognized a rare type of anaplastic large cell lymphoma associated with MI (BIA-ALCL). Like all neoplasms that affect humans, its genesis has a multifactorial origin. One of the factors correlated with a greater probability of developing BIA-ALCL was the macrotexture of the coating of the implants. This macrotexture coating was removed from the market by the manufacturer and was related to 84 to 86% of all reported cases of BIA-ALCL. The incidence of this type of neoplasm in implants with microtextured or smooth coating is extremely low. Microtextured breast implants are the products with the greatest scientific basis for safety and long-term predictability available on the current market. They present strong evidence of lower rates of capsular contracture and reoperations when compared to smooth implants in a subglandular position. The microtexture of the BI surface allows the placement of anatomical devices that can provide more individualized results for specific types of patients. They have minimal correlation with cases of BIA-ALCL.