Degenerative mineralization in the fibrous capsule of silicone breast implants.

The formation of a fibrous capsule made of long collagen fibers surrounding breast implants represents an unavoidable phenomenon as the patient's reaction to the presence of a foreign body. Depending upon the size and shape of the implants and the chemicals percolating through the shell, this fibrous capsule is continuously remodeled. The compaction of the foreign debris in the vicinity of the silicone shell is followed by the loss of cellular activity, shrinkage and necrosis.

Mineralization followup with the use of NMR spectroscopy and others.

High-resolution solid state NMR spectroscopy appears to be a powerful method for a better understanding of bone structures and bone substitutes and implants. It is particularly efficient to estimate osteoformation via bioceramic bone colonization. Pathological calcification occurring in bioprosthetic heart valves and breast prostheses can be characterized as a complement to X-ray spectrometry.