Characterization of BellaGel SmoothFine® Implant Surfaces and Correlation with Capsular Contracture

Abstract

BellaGel SmoothFine® implant is a novel nanotextured silicone breast implant. The objective of this study was to characterize differences of BellaGel SmoothFine® surfaces with commercial available implant surfaces in terms of texture, topography, and wettability as well as the behavior of capsular contracture. The surface textures of breast implants from two different manufacturers (Hans Biomed and Motiva) were evaluated. The implants utilized in this study were BellaGel Smooth®, BellaGel Textured®, BellaGel SmoothFine® or Motiva SilkSurface®. The shell textures of these implants were characterized using a scanning electron microscopy, three dimensional confocal laser scanning microscope, and contact angle goniometer. Silicone breast implants were emplaced beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle on the dorsum of Sprague Dawley rats and observed for up to 8 weeks postoperative days. The fibrous capsules around silicone implants were explanted for histological examination. BellaGel SmoothFine® exhibits a relatively flat, with little or no depth in the texturing, 5.96 ± 0.41 μm surface roughness, and a contact angle of 103.14 ± 2.06 BellGel SmoothFine® implant resulted in significant decreases in capsule thickness (P P ® and BellaGel Textured® implant groups. Significant (P ®. Fibrous tissue formation markers (Vimentin and alpha-smooth muscle actin) were significantly reduced in BellaGel SmoothFine® surfaces versus BellaGel Smooth® surfaces (P ® groups (P ® implant is associated with less breast implant derived capsular contracture than other surfaces.