Which brand of prosthesis to choose?

Recent scandals (the PIP affair) have highlighted the importance of choosing the right type and brand of implant for breast augmentation.

The race for low-cost has led some surgeons to make sacrifices on implant quality in order to maintain their fees.

The cost of a pair of implants on the French market ranges from €300 to €900.

And like everything else, quality comes at a price!!!!

For our part, we have decided to work only with top-of-the-range laboratories that control their production of hand-made implants from A to Z. This translates into high prices, from €500 to €900, but implies an extended guarantee in the event of a problem (reimbursement of implants).

We work exclusively with 3 laboratories:

Mentor : America's leading implant manufacturer, its European plant is based in the Netherlands. The brand is part of the Johnson and Johnson group, the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices. These smooth and textured implants are approved by the American FDA, and their follow-up over more than 10 years has been the subject of numerous scientific publications. We use their Siltex textured round implants, saline or silicone-filled smooth implants and expanders in breast reconstruction. Textured silicone implants benefit from the MentorPROMISE warranty program, which covers implant replacement for 10 years in the event of rupture and grade III or IV shell, and an additional €1,000 per breast in the event of rupture only.

Unfortunately, due to the low selling price of implants in France, Mentor has decided to close its French branch. This makes ordering implants more complicated, as you have to pay for them in advance, and you can't choose from several sizes. Nevertheless, we use these implants in around 5% of our cases.

MOTIVA : This is a new manufacturer (9 years old) from Costa Rica. It has developed new implant manufacturing methods, notably ultra-fluid Ergonomix gel and nanotexturation by on-mold impression. This nanotexturation is equivalent to a smooth implant, and is eligible for social security reimbursement (which is not the case with smooth implants!). In addition to manufacturing quality, one of the major advantages of these implants is their extended warranty. For an additional €200, the laboratory guarantees the implant and €2,500 per breast for 5 years in the event of rupture or grade III or IV hull. These implants currently account for 90% of our cases.

Polytech Health: These implants are made in Germany. The laboratory offers silicone breast implants covered with polyurethane foam, which are the most expensive implants on the market (€830). Their advantages are manifold. The shell rate is reduced to less than 1%, and anatomical implants present no risk of rotation. Polyurethane implants are guaranteed for life against rupture and grade III or IV shells. However, there is no reimbursement of surgical costs in the event of a problem. The question of the risk of anaplastic lymphoma with polyurethane-coated implants remains unanswered. Indeed, a significant number (45) of cases with the Silimed brand, Polytech's Brazilian competitor, have been described in Australia. At the same time, fewer than 5 cases worldwide have been described with the Polytech brand. For the past 2 years, we have preferred to limit our use of polyurethane implants to complex cases of reconstruction or recurrent shells. We perform around 5% of our cases with these implants.

NB April 4, 2019: POLYTECH breast implants covered with polyurethane foam have just been banned from use by ANSM, along with ALLERGAN, ARION, SEBBIN, EUROSILICONE and NAGOR macrotextured implants, due to an increased risk of LAGC.

Our decision to use MOTIVA ergonomix smooth implants almost exclusively for the past 2 years has been confirmed.

For more information, visit the websites of these 3 laboratories:

Mentor: www.mentorwwllc.com

Motiva: https: //motivaimplants.com/

Polytech Health: www.polytechhealth.com