Polyurethane implants: 5 key questions, answered
Polyurethane breast implants are used widely for breast augmentation surgery in South America, Europe and Australia. Although popular with high satisfaction rates, they have also sparked controversy in the past. Here are the key 5 questions and answers about Polyurethane implants.
1. What are they?
Polyurethane breast implants are silicone implants with a foamy texture on the outside of the implant. They are manufactured by a German company called Polytech.
2. What are the benefits?
The most significant benefit of Polyurethane implants is the reduced risk of capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is where scar tissue forms around the implant after breast augmentation surgery. This is a natural part of the healing process. In some cases however, over a period of time, the scar tissue can squeeze the implant. This will cause the breasts to harden and they can become painful. With a polyurethane implant, the textured foam layer prevents these harmful, later stages of capsular contraction. The scar tissue grows into the foamy texture and the implant becomes part of the breast tissue. With other types of implants, studies have shown that the chances of capsular contracture can be as high as 20% (1 in 5 women), 10 years after the operation has taken place. With polyurethane implants, the chances of capsular contracture were just 1%, up to 15 years post operation.
In addition, the polyurethane implants are also less likely to rotate in the breast, as the implant is more firmly attached to the breast tissue than with other types of implants.
3. What are the risks (including cancer)?
As the implant becomes part of the breast tissue, it can be difficult to remove it. If a removal needs to take place due to infection for example, it can make the operation more difficult. The implants were also controversially linked to cancer studies carried out in the 1990s. In a series of trials, a high level of one of the chemicals used in the polyurethane implant was injected into rats and the rats developed the disease. However, this chemical has never been shown to cause cancer in humans and has been found in patients who do not have breast implants. After further studies, an FDA panel calculated the risk to be 1 in 1 million, the equivalent to smoking one cigarette in the lifetime of a patient!. In other words “ negligible. It is important to note that cancer has never been linked to polyurethane implants in a human being.
There is a rare type of cancer that has been linked with breast implants, but this has been associated with all breast implants, particularly textured silicone implants. I have written a blog post about it here.
4. Will I need to get them replaced in the future?
There is a lower chance of needing replacement as the chances of capsular contracture are significantly decreased. However, you should always consider that there may be a need to have your implants changed in the future.
5. How do I decide whether to have polyurethane implants?
There are many factors to consider when choosing breast implants, and my previous blog on choosing the right breast implants may help you understand other types of implants and what to consider. There are many factors involved and it’s important that you discuss the right implants for you. I highly recommend talking to as many women as possible who have had surgery and doing your own independent research.
Speaking to a consultant like myself can also help! If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me on [email protected].
Hello there. As I am a runner and will soon be training for a marathon I was wondering which breast implant would be most suitable? I am 56kg and 5ft 4″ in height and 47 yrs of age, non smoker, occasional drinker.
I have already attended a consultation in a clinic and they have recommended polyurethane foam. I am considering size 395cc.
Thank you.
Hello, it is difficult to answer which breast implant would be most suitable because they all have pros and cons. I will send you some information about having breast implants here at The STAIANO Clinic and we would be happy to see you to discuss the different types and what might be best for you.
JJ Staiano
I had polytech under muscle implants 275cc 4 months ago. The have migrated to my armpits and will need further surgery.
If I have polytech implants placed over the muscle will this still prevent capsular contracture. Or my original was 295cc but was not available should I go t next size up.
Hi Pam, Thank you for your question, I will talk about this at 7pm tonight (Tuesday) in my live Q&A on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Having the implants under the muscle does not prevent capsular contracture, but it does make it less obvious as the muscle gives cover over the implants. There are pros and cons to having them under the muscle and one of the pros is that capsular contracture is less obvious but one of the cons is that the muscles can push the implants to the sides which might be what has happened to you – it is always a balance of the pros and cons.
If the surgery was only 4 months ago and you are having the implants changed, I don’t think it matters if you go up a size or down a size, it would depend on your personal preference. If you were having implants changed for capsular contracture, then it is usually advised to go up a size as some volume is removed with the capsules.
Hope this is helpful and tune in tonight on my social channels if you have any questions or would like to chat about it.
JJ Staiano
I have 275cc polytech under the muscle implants. They are too small and I have little volume. My surgeon has agreed to swop the implants with polytech size 335cc to give more volume. Will this be safe to carry out or is it too risky. Can I safely go ahead. Or shall I make do being small. Your advise would be very helpful.
Hi there, it is not possible to give a straight answer. The main thing in my practice is to look at the base diameter of your breast and make sure that the implant will ‘fit’ the footprint of your breast.
If you want to have a bigger implant, it will need to be bigger or have more projection (or both). It might be possible to have a bigger implant of the same base width of your implant if you can go to a higher projection (they are low, moderate, high and extra high). If you already have extra high projection, this will not be possible. The trade off is that it will give a fuller, less natural look and so this will need a discussion.
The other option if you want to go bigger is to have a wider implant and this will depend on your current base width and the base width of the implant that you have at present to see if this is possible. This would require examination and details of the dimensions of your current implant (there are several different implant dimensions for a 275cc implant depending on the shape and profile).
At the end of the day, this will need to be a discussion in person with your surgeon, so I am sorry that I can’t be of more help but thank you for getting in touch and good luck.
JJ Staiano
Are polytech implants difficult to remove
Hi Pam, Yes, they are more difficult to remove than silicone implants. However, in my experience it is not as difficult as it is sometimes made out by surgeons who do not regularly use them. On the occasion that I have had to remove a polyurethane implant, there is no question that it is more difficult than a silicone implant, but that is largely because it is usually very easy to remove a silicone implant. It is still quite possible to remove polyurethane implants, but it does take a little more time and effort.
JJ
I have polyurethane implants 365cc round high profile placed subfascial. It was a revision surgery for symmastia repair, sadly the symmastia seems to be back, the skin between breasts is swollen and the implants sit quite high on the upper pole and dont have a nice round appearance. Do these implants drop a bit over time? What is your experience with these implants?
Hi there, I do have experience with polyurethane implants. I normally say that they settle over time rather than drop.
Synmastia is notoriously difficult to correct and so I would work closely with your surgeon and try not to get too despondent too early.
Good luck.
JJ