Breast Implant Surfaces

Breast implants vary as to their surfaces. Until 2008, the only choice in Australia was between Smooth and Textured (also called ‘Rough’) Implants.  However, Australian women now have an additional choice in the form of Polyurethane Foam-Covered implant walls.  The latter still have silicone gel as their filler but the implant wall is coated with a 1 - 2mm fine mesh of polyurethane foam.  Manufactured in Brazil and popular for years in many overseas countries, the polyurethane foam coating gives them a ‘furry-feel’ – hence their colloquial name “Furry Brazilians”.

Polyurethane Foam-Covered Silicone Gel implants do require a special technique of insertion and, disappointingly, not all Breast Augmentation Surgeons are offering them to patients.  Many overseas studies have reported that these implants have the following two very significant advantages:

1. The Polyurethane Foam Surface dramatically reduces the risk of Capsular Contracture (the commonest cause of revision surgery) from 5 - 19% in the case of traditional Smooth/Textured (Rough) implants to approximately 1% with Polyurethane Foam-Covered implants.
2. The Polyurethane Foam Surface adheres like ‘Velcro’ to the implant pocket walls and therefore the risk of the implant turning or moving out of position – one of the commonest causes for revision surgery* - is said to be negligible.

The main properties of the three types of implant surface are summarised below:

Please note: The foregoing information is not meant to convey the impression or Dr Mayson’s belief that Polyurethane Foam-Covered Breast Implants are the only implants to have inserted.  Despite their advantages in reducing the chances of the above two potential complications, these implants may not be the ideal, or the only choice, for any given woman.  Dr Mayson simply maintains that every woman considering Breast Augmentation should at least be offered these Polyurethane Foam-Covered Breast Implants for her consideration in her overall decision-making process.

For example, how would you feel if your Smooth or Textured surface implants moved out of position or you developed Capsular Contracture – each requiring further surgery at your considerable additional cost - and your surgeon had never even offered you the option of at least considering the Polyurethane Foam-Covered Implants which may well have avoided the aforementioned conmplications?

For more specific information on Breast Implants please click on the links below:

Breast Implants
Silicone Implants
Silicone vs Saline Implants
Polyurethane Silicone Implants
Breast Implant Surfaces
Breast Implant Shapes
Breast Implant Sizes
Breast Implant Positions
Breast Implant Replacement
Breast Implants Sydney, Melbourne & Brisbane