Perceptions and attitudes toward unusual complications following breast implant surgeries among Saudi female patients: How knowledgeable are our patients?

[BACKGROUND] The number of breast implant-related procedures has rapidly increased. Given the current increase in social media coverage and its influence on the decision to undergo breast implant surgeries, it is critical to identify patients' misinformation about unusual complications related to breast implants. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the perceptions and attitudes toward unusual complications related to breast implants among patients who underwent breast implant surgeries.

[METHODS] In the present cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was distributed between April 2021 and May 2021 among patients who had undergone breast implant surgeries between 2016 and 2021 at King Saud University Medical City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The 26-item questionnaire was distributed online to assess the participants' perceptions about breast implant illness (BII), capsular contracture, and breast implant-associated anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (BIA-ALCL). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 23.0.

[RESULTS] In total, 106 patients who underwent breast implant surgeries were included in the present study (response rate: 73.6%). Their mean age was 43.68 ± 10.69 years. The reason for undergoing breast implant surgery was cosmetic in 41.5% of the participants and reconstructive in 58.5%. Moreover, 22.6%, 23.6%, and 24.5% of the participants had knowledge about BIA-ALCL, BII, and capsular contracture, respectively.

[CONCLUSIONS] The present findings indicate that it is important for plastic surgeons to discuss unusual complications related to breast implants with patients on a regular basis. Despite the obscurity of these complications, such discussions are important to provide best available information to patients.