Mammary implants: laboratory simulation of recreational diving conditions

• Published in: British journal of plastic surgery Vol. 55; no. 2; pp. 120 - 123
• Main Authors: Grippaudo, Francesca Romana, Minasi, Paola, Muratori, Luigi, Rocco, Monica, Bruno, Annunziata, Saracca, Elena
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01-03-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; breast implant; Breast Implants; Decompression; Diving; Female; Humans; hyperbaric chamber; Materials Testing; Medical sciences; Pressure; Recreation; Silicone Gels; simulated dive; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Technology. Biomaterials. Equipments; Transport. Aerospace. Diving. Altitude; Traumas. Diseases due to physical agents; diving; simulated dive; breast implant; hyperbaric chamber; Recreational activity; Human; Volume measurement; Prosthesis; Structure integrity; Exploration; Diving; Mammary gland; Experimental study; Density; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0007-1226; 1465-3087
• DOI: 10.1054/bjps.2001.3781

To ascertain whether mammary implants are prone to changes in conformation or structure if they are submitted to recreational dives, eight mammary implants were submitted to 40 simulated dives to imitate an average recreational diving schedule. Matching implants were used as a control group. Photographs were taken before and after completion of the protocol. All implants were observed for changes in volume and checked for integrity. Variations in density were evaluated using a Tc scan. No changes in volume occurred after each dive. None of the implants showed ruptures, and Tc scanning failed to reveal any differences in density between tested and control implants. Cohesive-gel implants submitted to the simulated dives showed some morphological alterations. This study indicates that the mammary implants tested could be implanted in a sports diver, but raises concern about whether the increased exposure to stress could negatively affect their durability.