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Serial Sterilization of Silicone Breast Implant Sizers Contributes to a Change in Volume as Compared to Permanent Breast Implants
Katherine H. Carruthers, M.D., M.S., Julian Faiz, Vidas G. Dumasius, M.D., F.A.C.S.
West Virginia University
2019-02-03
Presenter: Katherine H. Carruthers, M.D., M.S.
Affidavit:
The submitted abstract represents original work performed by the above named resident.
Director Name: Aaron Mason, M.D.
Author Category: Resident Plastic Surgery
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: Breast (Aesthetic and Recon.)
Background
The re-sterilization of breast implant sizers introduces air pockets into the sizers which are retained. We hypothesized that this contributes to mismatch in permanent implant selection. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine how serial sterilization changes the volume of implant sizers and whether this change results in a clinically significant difference in permanent implant selection.
Materials and Methods
We selected devices across a range of volumes and measured their volumes after ten sterilizations. The volume after each re-sterilization was recorded and the difference was calculated to show each interval increase in implant volume over the device's lifetime. T-test analyses were used to determine if there was a statistically significant change in sizer volume.
Results
After ten sterilizations, a similar absolute increase in volume was found in each device, ranging from 23.88cc to 26.54cc. As a percent, this increase was greater for the 200cc sizer (12.85%) than the 600cc sizer (3.98%). Although the volume did increase with each sterilization, the largest single increase in volume across all devices and sterilizations was 12.04cc. Overall, the change in sizer volume became statistically significant after the fifth sterilization (p=0.04).
Conclusion
Serial sterilization of breast implant sizers results in an approximately 25cc increase in volume over the lifetime of the device. Furthermore, a statistically significant change in volume is seen after only five rounds of sterilization. Therefore, surgeons should adjust their permanent implant selection to account for an increase in sizer volume and exercise caution when re-sterilizing smaller volume silicone sizers.
