Complication of Augmentation Mammoplasty using Polysaccharide Hydrogel Breast implant: Two Cases Report

After the use of silicone-filled breast implant was restricted in 1992, PIP Hydrogel (Poly Implant Prosthesis, France) was temporarily used as an alternative which is an organic polymer of polysaccharide and water. This case report draws attention to an unusual presentation following the insertion of a PIP Hydrogel implant for breast augmentation. The first case is about 43-year-old woman who has undergone breast augmentation using PIP Hydrogel implant was admitted to the hospital because of painful swelling in her right breast. On examination, the right breast was larger than the left. At the operation, it was found that the implant on the right side has a large tear in the shell. And the other case is about 47-year-old woman who had capsular contracture on the outer-lower quadrant of both breasts. She came to our institution to replace bigger implants. We removed existing both breast implants (170cc, subglandular), and replaced cohesive gel implant (300cc, submuscular). From 1992 to 2000, the breast implant filled with a polysaccharide gel had been widely used because of its viscoelastic properties and biodegradability. However, there is no long-term safety data that the filler material as a polysaccharide hydrogel is toxic to humans or not. We wish to highlight its unpredictability and unreliability.