Overview of Reported Breast Implant–Related Reactions After COVID-19 Infection or Vaccination

Abstract

We have read with great interest the case report entitled “Development of Acute Seroma Around Breast Implants Following Administration of COVID-19 Vaccination” by Mak et al. 1 By sharing their case, the authors have added another important piece of data to an overlooked and underreported topic. Among the vast numbers of people vaccinated globally in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), reports of adverse effects are plentiful. This also affects patients in the field of plastic surgery. Although reports of immune reactions to dermal fillers after COVID-19 vaccination were described in the early clinical trials of the vaccines, 2 the first cases of potential reactions to breast implants were published after they passed clinical trials. 3-5 Due to different clinical manifestations and lack of awareness by physicians, the total number can only be estimated. After reporting a series of cases with similar symptoms and medical histories as the current case report, we aimed to give an overview of the available cases found in the literature. 6 Since then, several new reports about similar cases after vaccination or COVID-19 infections have appeared. 1,7,8 Although these are rare occurrences considering the number of women with implants who received COVID-19 vaccines, the increasing number of case reports shows that despite the number of reported cases, it still is a novelty for the majority of physicians and surgeons. We agree with the authors that a direct causation of an inflammatory reaction to the virus or vaccine can be challenging to prove and some of the reported cases might simply be due to statistical chance as a consequence to the sheer number of administered vaccines. The temporal sequence and symptoms similar to other reports are nevertheless a strong indicator of an inflammation-triggered response. Due to the increasing number of cases, certain similarities can be seen regarding clinical presentations. To help other surgeons we have updated our overview of reported cases found in the literature (Table 1). The limited data available show that patients with breast implants presenting with sudden onset of unilateral or bilateral swelling and discomfort of the breast should be interviewed thoroughly regarding recent vaccinations or infections with COVID-19. If other symptoms are present, a test for an ongoing COVID-19 infection is advised. Seroma, swelling, and pain were the most common symptoms in the reported cases and ultrasound of the breast to confirm the diagnosis is recommended. The existing cases indicate that symptoms occur unrelated to the timing of the initial surgery. With respect to the collected cases shown in Table 1, it may be of interest that nearly all immunologic reactions occurred in patients older than 45 years of age and no cases for patients under the age of 30 have been reported to date. There is no indication so far of a correlation with the implant texture. Conservative treatment of the symptoms with anti-inflammatory drugs and drainage of the seroma, if present, has been shown to be effective in cases that involved undamaged implants. Collectively, these case reports show that these reactions occur to both the virus and the vaccine. Because symptoms can be similar to breast implant–associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry should be used to rule out malignant cause. Table 1. Reported Cases Found in the Literature Citation Age (years) Implant size/texture Time since implant surgery (years) Vaccine (dose) Infection Onset (days) Symptoms Treatment Weitgasser et al 5 55 620 cc/smooth 0.2 AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK (1) – 2 Pain and seroma Surgery 76 360 cc/textured 5 Pfizer-BioNTech, New York, NY and Mainz, Germany (1) – 2 Pain and swelling Conservative 52 250 cc/smooth 1.5 Pfizer-BioNTech (1) – 2 Pain and redness Conservative 52 Unknown 0.7 J&J, New Brunswick, NJ – 3 Pain Conservative Restifo 4 34 440 cc/smooth 0.5 Pfizer-BioNTech (2) – 6 Pain and LAP Surgery Kayser et al 3 48 Textured 5 Pfizer-BioNTech (2) – 10 Pain and swelling Conservative Mak et al 1 49 350 cc/smooth 17 AstraZeneca (1) – 4-5 Pain and swelling Surgery Martínez Núñez et al 7 44 Microtextured 5 – Yes 4 Swelling and redness Seroma puncture 48 Unknown 8 – Yes – Pain and swelling Surgery Mahrhofer et al 6 48 Unknown 12 Pfizer-BioNTech (2) – 19 Pain and swelling Surgery Van Wert et al 8 50 Unknown 7 – Yes – Sterile abscess Surgery J&J, Johnson & Johnson; LAP, lymphadenopathy. More studies are needed to help us understand more precisely the biochemical mechanisms involved. Moreover, patients and surgeons should be made aware of possible inflammatory reactions and their treatment. We want to thank the authors for sharing their experience and shedding more light on this important topic and hope that others are encouraged to report their findings.