Misti Gold breast implants were an alternative to conventional silicone gel breast implants placed in the early 90′s. They were filled with polyvinylpyrrolidone-hydrogel instead of silicone gel or saline and were advertised as the “newer better” breast implant. Shortly after their introduction however problems started occurring more frequently than with their predecessors. They were found to form more severe contracture and had an annoying tendency to swell after placement progressively. The study I quoted below cited about a 60% removal rate in about 4 years.

MISTI Gold breast implants (Bioplasty, St. Paul, Minn.) filled with polyvinylpyrrolidone-hydrogel were developed as a promising alternative to silicone-filled implants. Some studies have reported on the positive effects of the implant, such as improved radiolucency and biocompatibility of the gel; however, there are also reports that such implants increased in volume and were subject to capsular contracture in the human body, resulting in demands for their removal. The purpose of this retrospective study was to analyze the long-term results of a series of patients with MISTI Gold breast implants. Between 1991 and 1993, the authors inserted 83 MISTI Gold implants in 61 patients with an average age of 46 years (range, 16 to 69). The authors were able to follow up 48 patients with 71 MISTI Gold implants. The average follow-up was 68 months (range, 10 to 108 months). The retrospective study found that 59 percent of all MISTI Gold implants were removed after an average period of 4.14 years. The main reason for implant removal was an increase in volume of 38 percent, followed by capsular contracture in 14 percent of all 71 MISTI Gold implants.

Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12409763

To make a long story short, the FDA forced the Bioplasty company to recall these implants in 1991 and in 1992 the company stopped making breast implants entirely.

In breast implant surgery it can be hazardous to rush into the use of any “newer better implant” until it is actually proven to be better that is.

Best Regards,

John Di Saia MD

Originally posted 2011-03-02 07:30:07.