Effects of Heat on Silicone Breast Implants: In Situ and Modeling Analysis

Abstract

Women with silicone-gel breast implants may be at risk of burns on reconstructed tissue due to inadequate blood flow and heat transfer after mastectomy. This study employed thermal imaging and numerical simulations to examine the impact of external heat on silicone breast implants. By applying infrared radiation across three spectrum ranges, detailed thermal maps were created and analyzed with MATLAB software (Mathworks, Natick, MA, USA) version release 2020b. Implants were heated to simulate body and external conditions, enabling thermal imaging to assess temperature distribution. The Finite Element Method was utilized for heat transfer simulations. Our results indicated deeper thermal penetration in the implanted breast model compared to a standard model. This study highlights thermal imaging as a reliable, non-invasive method to evaluate implant responses to heat and suggests strategies to reduce heat-related injuries in patients with breast reconstruction. This method has the potential for comfortable and safe home monitoring of patients using handheld thermal imaging cameras that are now available as attachments for smartphones.