Carboxy-methyl-cellulose Hydrogel-filled Breast Implants - an Ideal Alternative? A Report of Five Years' Experience with This Device

The controversy over the potential health risks from exposure to silicone gel from breast implants has led to extensive research to improve the safety of silicone gel-filled implants. In addition, there has been simultaneous research directed toward the development of alternative filling materials, with the goal of a breast implant that would minimize health risks and maximize cosmetic attributes. In the present study, experience with a filler material that has textural characteristics similar to that of silicone gel, but which is biodegradable and can therefore be eliminated by the body in case of implant failure, is reported.Since February 2000, the authors have been monitoring carboxy-methyl-cellulose (CMC) hydrogel breast implants as participants in a prospective clinical trial. CMC hydrogel is a biodegradable, nontoxic, nonmutagenic and viscoelastic gel, which has been in clinical use since 1984 and has been available as the Monobloc breast implant since 1994. For the present study, 122 patients who underwent surgery between February 2000 and February 2005 were evaluated. It was determined that CMC hydrogel implants have a higher radiotranslucency than silicone gel, and the integrity of this device was easy to prove by clinical examination. In case of rupture, the implant can be replaced immediately; it is easily inserted and can be placed through a small incision because of its highly elastic shell. The complication rate was very low, and the patients were highly satisfied. In terms of safety, the implant is comparable with saline, and its consistency is comparable with that of silicone gel.