Assessment of silicone gel breast implant biodurability by NMR and EDS techniques.

In a study using explanted gel breast implants and appropriate nonimplanted controls, we examined silicone biodurability after long-term implantation. Using NMR spectroscopy, as well as NMR relaxometry measurements (T(2)), no evidence of hydrolysis or other chemical degradation of the cross-linked silicone matrix was observed in specimens from an early breast implant model (Cronin) explanted after 32 years in vivo or a more recent Silastic II model after 13 years in vivo. In addition, no appreciable differences were seen in T(2) relaxation times comparing explanted breast implants to suitably-matched nonimplanted controls, further underscoring the biostability of the cross-linked silicone shell and gel.