Authors: Ramião, N.; Martins, P.; Fernandes, A.A.; Barroso, M.L., Santos, D.

The recent events surrounding Poly Implant Prostheses (PIP) breast implants have renewed the debate about the safety of silicone implants. The question of the longevity and durability of silicone implants is still unresolved. In this study the proposed solution to this problem is based on mechanical analysis of the PIP silicone implants. Thus, to evaluate the mechanical properties of the shell material, tensile tests according to the international standard EN ISO 37-1 was performed. A total number of forty-nine specimens were analyzed and two different implants brands were compared (Polytech and PIP), allowing a detailed mapping of the mechanical properties of the silicone shell. Preliminary tests demonstrated mechanical weakening of PIP, compared with Polytech shells. However, it is necessary pay attention that so much the control implant and the PIP implant is not known the time points of implantation-this may skew results, for this further studies is required

Ramião, N.¹ | Martins, P.¹ | Fernandes, A.A.¹ | Barroso, M.L.² | Santos, D²
1 Departamento de Engenharia Mecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto
2 Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica, Reconstrutiva e Maxilofacial