Silicon in Human Breast Tissue Surrounding Silicone Gel Prostheses: A Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-ray Investigation of Normal, Fibrocystic and Peri-prosthetic Breast Tissue

Abstract

Implanted silicone breast prostheses leak silicone gel through the intact membrane. In order to determine the exact location and to achieve a semiquantitative estimation of the amount of silicone in the surrounding tissue, a method involving scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive analysis of X-rays (EDAX) was used. By this method we were able to demonstrate the presence of the element silicon (Si) (main component of silicone, a polymer with a general formula e.g. (CH3[Si(CH3)2O]n Si(CH3)3 along the inner border of vacuoles corresponding to the light microscopic localization of droplets and in macrophages. The tissue adjacent to the prostheses had a higher silicon content than the control tissue.

Characteristics of Women Who Have Had Cosmetic Breast Implants That Could Be Associated with Increased Suicide Risk: A Systematic Review, Proposing a Suicide Prevention Model

“…Recent life stressors (financial, relationship or other personal issues) [ 74 ] that are not always part of a typical medical history might be important in predicting suicide risk and should be included in preoperative patient assessment. Breast augmentation surgery can stimulate a systematic stress response in several ways [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 75 , 76 ] and increase the pre-existing risk of suicide in women who seek cosmetic mammaplasty. ASIA particularly in women with pre-existing allergies and FMS cannot be excluded from being independent risk factors.…”

Adverse reactions to injectable soft tissue fillers

“…166,167 Medical-grade silicone refers to a pure and sterile preparation with consistent viscosity of 360 centistokes. Silicone gel is a hydrophobic oil-like compound that has a high affinity for cell membranes, 168 entering into the cytoplasm of circulating inflammatory cells, mostly macrophages, [169][170][171][172][173] and by this route migrating along the reticuloendothelial system to regional lymph nodes, 174,175 the liver, 176 and the spleen. 177 To avoid the side effects that result from using large amounts of liquid silicone, ''bag-gel'' implants were introduced, mostly for augmentation of the breasts.…”

In vivo degradation of silicones

“…Free silicone has been found in surrounding tissue (18,19) and regional lymph nodes (20) in patients with silicone breast prostheses, but a relationship has not been established between autoimmune disease and the presence of silicone in the body.…”