Hyaluronic Acid-Carboxymethylcellulose (Seprafilm bioresorable membrane) was developed to decrease the incidence of intra-abdominal adhesions after abdominal surgery and therefore reduce the incidence of small bowel obstruction. Other uses of seprafilm have been adapted by specialties other than general surgery such as infertility specialists and cardiothoracic surgeons.

Despite advances in implant technology, capsular contracture is one of the most frustrating complications of augmentation mammaplasty and breast reconstruction. If Seprafilm could show a similar rate of scar reduction around breast implants, a relatively inexpensive way of reducing the complications of breast reconstruction and augmentation will have been found.

Experimental saline filled implants have been placed in ten rats. Five of these rats had Seprafilm placed around the implant. Two months after implantation the animals will be sacrificed. The implants and the surrounding tissue will be harvested for examination by a pathologist who is blinded as to which implants were placed with Seprafilm. We have placed the implants as described and are awaiting maturation of the capsule. The implants will be harvested en block, thickness and appearance will be measured clinically and microscopically. Final results will be available on time for presentation.