title: The Austrian breast implant register: recent trends in implant-based breast surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Due to the fact that the number of breast implant surgeries for cosmetic and medical purposes is rising yearly, a discussion about the quality of service for both patients and physicians is more important than ever. To this end, we reviewed the Austrian Breast Implant Register with one specific question in mind: What are the trends?
  
  
  METHODS
  In the statistical analysis of the Austrian Breast Implant Register, we were able to identify 13,112 registered breast implants between 2004 and 2012. The whole dataset was then divided into medical and cosmetic groups. We focused on device size, surface characteristics, filling material, device placement and incision site. All factors were considered for all examined years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In summary, the most used device had a textured surface (97 %) and silicone gel as the filling material (93 %). The mean size of implants for the cosmetic group was 240 cc, placement was submuscular (58 %) and the incision site was inframammary (67 %). In the medical group, the mean size was 250 cc. Yearly registrations had their peak in 2008 (1,898 registered devices); from this year on, registrations decreased annually. A slight trend away from subglandular placement in the cosmetic group was noted. Also, the usage of implants with polyurethane surface characteristics has increased since 2008. The smooth surface implants had a peak usage in 2006 and their usage decreased steadily from then on whereas the textured surface was steady over the years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Keeping the problems related to the quality of breast implants in mind, we could recommend an obligatory national register. Organisations of surgeons and governments should develop and establish these registers. Furthermore, an all-encompassing international register should be established by the European Union and the American FDA (Food and Drug Administration); this might be useful in comparing the individual country registers and also would help in delivering "evidence based" medicine in cosmetic and medical procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 29, 8036, Graz, Austria, wurzer_paul@gmx.at.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wurzer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rappl
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Friedl
authors.forename: Lars-Peter
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kamolz
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spendel
authors.forename: Helmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoflehner
authors.forename: Daryousch
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parvizi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001941:Breast Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019928:Breast Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends*; D018427:Breast Implants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012042:Registries; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult