Breast Implants: Biomaterials, Surfaces, Biocompatibility-A Biomedical Engineering Perspective

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Breast implants are among the most frequently used long-term implantable medical devices in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery. In addition to correcting anatomical deficits, they have significant psychosocial effects, influencing body image, self-esteem, and quality of life, particularly in patients undergoing postmastectomy reconstruction. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development, biological interactions, material characteristics, and clinical outcomes of breast implants. Early reconstructive attempts using foreign materials and injectable substances were associated with severe complications, underscoring the need for safer technologies. The introduction of silicone gel implants in the 1960s marked a pivotal advancement, followed by the development of saline-filled devices and highly cohesive silicone gels with enhanced mechanical stability. Key surgical considerations, including incision type and implant placement plane (subglandular, submuscular, dual-plane, and subfascial), are discussed in relation to aesthetic outcomes and complication risk. Emphasis is placed on the implant-tissue interface and the foreign body response (FBR), a process involving protein adsorption, immune cell activation, fibrous capsule formation, and potential chronic inflammation. Persistent inflammatory stimulation, often associated with bacterial biofilm format

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

Browse all related research

Filter the research library by this study's title keywords, author, or publication year.