Thirteen-Year Trends in Aesthetic Breast Implant Surgery

An institutional prospective observational registry was established at IQ Interquirofanos to collect standardized clinical and surgical information and evaluate temporal trends in aesthetic breast surgery. Data included in this analysis were prospectively recorded at the time of surgery between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2024.

The analytical cohort consisted of 22,642 unique adult participants. No participant contributed more than one surgical event. Each participant was assigned to one of three mutually exclusive procedural groups: primary aesthetic breast implant placement, breast implant replacement, or definitive breast implant removal without replacement.

Data collected included age, sex, calendar year of surgery, procedure category, right- and left-sided breast implant volumes, duration of prior implant use, and the primary recorded indication for implant replacement or removal. For replacement procedures, both prior and newly placed implant volumes were evaluated. For removal procedures, prior implant volumes were recorded.

When implant duration coexisted with another clinical or aesthetic indication for secondary surgery, the specific clinical or aesthetic indication was prioritized. "Time with implants" was recorded as the primary indication only when another specific indication was not present.

The primary outcome was the annual number and proportion of primary implant placements, implant replacements, and implant removals. Secondary outcomes included implant volumes by calendar year and procedural group, duration of prior implant use, indications for replacement and removal, and associations between age, implant volume, and implant duration.

Continuous variables were summarized using means and standard deviations. Categorical variables were reported using absolute frequencies and percentages. Differences in implant volume across calendar years were evaluated using Welch's one-way analysis of variance. Pearson correlation coefficients, 95% confidence intervals, and p-values were used to evaluate associations between age and new implant volume and between age and implant duration.

Participants without documented postoperative follow-up or with missing core variables were excluded. Postoperative complications and reinterventions occurring outside IQ Interquirofanos were not evaluated as study outcomes and could not be comprehensively ascertained from the institutional registry.

Inclusion criteria

Participants aged 18 years or older. Participants undergoing primary aesthetic breast implant placement, breast implant replacement, or definitive breast implant removal.

Procedure performed at IQ Interquirofanos. Complete clinical and surgical records for the eligible procedure. Documented postoperative follow-up in the institutional record.

Exclusion criteria

Breast surgery performed for reconstructive indications, including postmastectomy reconstruction, congenital deformity, or trauma.

Mixed reconstructive and aesthetic indications. Missing core clinical or surgical variables. Absence of documented postoperative follow-up.