Outcomes of In-Office, High Resolution Ultrasound Silicone Breast Implant Surveillance by Plastic Surgeons

Summary: This study validated high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) as an effective tool for diagnosing silicone breast implant rupture, using data from a single-surgeon cohort. Among 254 patients, HRUS demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, with 100% positive predictive value and 97.6% negative predictive value, as well as strong sensitivity (90.9%) and specificity (100%) in detecting ruptures confirmed by surgical exploration. Implant age was the only significant predictor of rupture. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed implant survival rates of 98% at 10 years and 80% at 15 years, with even higher survival in patients monitored only with HRUS. The findings support office-based HRUS as a reliable and accessible implant surveillance method.