Silicone gel implants prefered over saline - the people speak

Patient Satisfaction and Health-Related Quality of Life Following Breast Reconstruction: A Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes Amongst Saline and Silicone Implant Recipients
Macadam, Sheina A. MS; Ho, Adelyn L. MD; Cook, E F. Jr SD; Lennox, Peter A. MD; Pusic, Andrea L. MHS
Published Ahead-of-Print

Abstract
Background: In recent years, there has been a growing acceptance of the value of breast reconstruction. The majority of women who choose to proceed will undergo alloplastic reconstruction. The primary objective of this study was to determine if the type of implant used in alloplastic breast reconstruction has an impact upon patient-reported satisfaction and quality of life.
Methods: Patients were deemed eligible if they had completed alloplastic reconstruction at least one year prior to study initiation. Patients were contacted by mail: two questionnaires (BREAST-Q(C) and EORTC QLQC30 (Br23)(C)), a contact letter, and an incentive gift-card were included. Scores were compared between silicone and saline implant recipients.
Results: 75 silicone implant recipients and 68 saline implant recipients responded for a response rate of 58%. BREAST-Q(C) responses showed silicone implant recipients to have higher scores on all 9 subscales. This difference reached statistical significance on 4 of 9 subscales: overall satisfaction (p=0.008), psychological well-being (p=0.032), sexual well-being (p=0.05), and satisfaction with surgeon (p=0.019). Regression analysis adjusted for follow-up time, timing of surgery, unilateral vs. bilateral surgery, radiation and age. Results from the EORTC QLQC30 (Br23)(C) showed a statistically significant difference on 2 of 22 subscales: silicone recipients had higher overall physical function and saline recipients had higher systemic side effects.
Conclusions: This study has shown higher satisfaction with breast reconstruction in silicone gel implant recipients compared to saline recipients using the BREAST-Q(C). There was no difference in overall global health status between the two patient groups as measured by the EORTC-QLQC30(C).
(C)2009American Society of Plastic Surgeons