Breast Implant Surfaces

Breast implants vary as to the surface nature of their walls. 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 1mm fine mesh of polyurethane foam.

Manufactured in Brazil and used extensively overseas for many years, the polyurethane foam coating gives them a ‘furry-feel’ and for this reason they are colloquially known as “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 studies have reported that these implants deliver the following two very significant advantages for patients:

1. The Polyurethane Foam Surface dramatically reduces the risk of Capsular Contracture (the commonest reason for revision surgery) from around 16.8% at 8 years* with non-foam implants to approximately 1% with foam-covered implants.
2. The Polyurethane Foam Surface adheres like ‘Velcro’ firmly to the implant pocket walls and therefore the risk of the implant turning or moving out of position – the second commonest complication requiring revision surgery* – is also dramatically reduced.

It therefore follows that every woman considering Breast Augmentation should at least be offered the option of these Polyurethane Foam-Covered Breast Implants in order to reduce her chances of needing future revision surgery.

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