Allergan Style 410 or Mentor CPG Versus Free Flap Reconstruction?

asked 2 years ago by NeedNewBreasts in Fairfax, VA
Latest answer by Guido P. Gutter MD
Question viewed 611 times
Tags: age 45-54, breasts, female, capsular contracture, risk

I had bilateral breast reconstruction w/ saline implants almost 17 years ago. The implants lasted 13 and 15 years, and deflated due to capsular contraction. Does this increase my risks with the Style-410 implants? How long do they last? I am 50 years now and don't want surgery again at 65-70 years.

Also, I have minimal tissue thickness over the implant in one of the breasts. Will the implant look natural w/ very little tissue thickness over it? I have been waiting for the implant approval for 2 years now. Would free flap bilateral reconstruction be a better for a low-maintenance natural look?

9 answers to Allergan Style 410 or Mentor CPG Versus Free Flap Reconstruction?

Breast reconstruction

Hello, You have several questions which can be answered with several answers: "Your own tissue" vs. (Gel) implants vs. "your own tissue" and implants. You will need to seek the opinion of a Plastic Surgeon well versed in the different approaches. He can than "tailor" the best possible approach for you. Good luck.

Guido P. Gutter MD
Evansville Plastic Surgeon

Breast reconstruction

All implant reconstructions will require maitainance, that is future surgery regardless of the implant type. Autologus tissue reconstruction may need two or three surgeries to achieve symmetry and cosmesis, but after that no maintainance is required. Free tissue transfer is very good especiall in bilateral reconstruction, they are long complex surgeries. Now a new method is gaining more poularity is FAT TRANSFER for breast reconstruction, May require two to three cessions but it utilizes... more

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Get evaluation for Breast Implants or Free Flap Reconstruction

Your question is impossible to answer over the net. See a boarded plastic surgeon. My opinion is to go with the implant reconstruction IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE. The free flap is a long operation with very high risks. Best of luck.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Free flap vs implant reconstruction

It is a question of autologous tissue reconstruction vs. implants. In my mind, autologous tissue reconstruction hands down feels more natural and looks more natural in the majority of cases.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Free flap vs implant reconstruction

There is no doubt that free tissue transfers make better breasts when all goes well. These are complex procedures and should only be done by those who do them frequently. Bilateral cases are twice as complex and you need to have a good lower abdominal donor site to be a candidate. There are other tissue sites which can be harvested but the abdomen is the workhorse for sure. The tissue flaps feel more natural, look more natural and can be resculpted if needed over time... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Form-stable implants vs. free flaps for breast reconstruction

The good news is that there are much better implants to use for reconstruction than saline; the bad news is that the FDA has really dragged their feet on approving the form-stable implants (Mentor CPG, Allergan 410.) Advantages of implant reconstruction include the fact that it can be done as an outpatient surgery with minimal recovery time. Given that you have coverage issues and a history of contractures, I would suggest looking into using a material called Alloderm to give better... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

No need to wait for the 410 Allergan breast implants

The silicone implants that available at this time are as good as 410. You will get the same result from available silicone implant. The other option is free flap breast reconstruction.This is more involved surgery and has longer recovery. The results from free flap reconstruction are more natural( your own tissue from the abdomin is used) and also there is no need for the implant use. The best option is to talk to your plastic surgeon and let him help you with the right choice for you.... more

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Secondary breast reconstruction

The easy answer is if you don't want surgery again at age 65-70 don't get implants since there is always a risk that you will need surgery 15-20 years later for many different reasons. It is not a given, but it is always a possibility if not an expectation. However, free flap surgery, the gold standard, is not a simple procedure but it is the most natural and long-lasting. Get a comprehensive consultation with a surgeon who does both and explore the pros and cons of all the methods of... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Couple thoughts

First of all, biting off a bilateral free flap reconstruction is a lot so talk with some patients who have had it done before choosing this alternative. Second, the size of your reconstructive breasts will be limited using bilateral autologous tissue. Be sure to understand the size you'll be as it may be smaller than you want. Third, 17 years is a good long time for implants to last. Will you really care at 70 years old if you have some capsular contracture. Hopefully, you'll be a vigorous,... more