Augmentation mammoplasty: results of a patient survey.

A detailed survey on aesthetic augmentation mammoplasty was sent to patients who had undergone this procedure at the Massachusetts General Hospital between July 1973 and July 1991 to determine the incidence of postoperative complications after augmentation mammoplasty, and to qualify the factors related to patient satisfaction (n = 304). Surgical records of respondents were examined. After a mean follow-up of 8.2 years, there were no patients with known breast cancer or autoimmune disease after augmentation. Five implants (2.5%) were replaced due to leakage. Other complications were rare. Overall satisfaction was high and correlated inversely with capsular contracture ratings and elapsed time. Contracture ratings increased with time for silicone implants. Gel implants in the submuscular position were softer than subglandular ones after 5 years elapsed time. Most women are satisfied after augmentation mammoplasty, despite a significant incidence of capsular contracture. The incidence of other adverse effects after augmentation is low. Augmentation mammoplasty does not appear to be an inducer of autoimmune disease or of breast cancer.