A Comprehensive Bibliometric Study on Silicone Implants: From Aesthetics to Prosthetics and Augmentation.

Abstract

Silicone implants have significantly advanced, evolving from aesthetic enhancements to essential components in reconstructive surgery. This study aims to assess the development of and trends in global silicone implant research from 1948 to 2024 through bibliometric analysis. The analysis was carried out via the Scopus database, with publications classified on the basis of various factors, including the countries/regions of focus, journals, institutes, citations, and content analysis, to identify emerging and hot topics. Furthermore, VOSviewer software (version 1.6.20) was used to perform a bibliometric analysis of trending research topics. A total of 4522 articles were retrieved from the Scopus database between 1948 and 2024. Most of these were research articles (3604, 79.70%), followed by letters (359, 7.94%) and reviews (222, 4.91%). Research on silicone implants has shown a significant upwards trajectory (R²= 0.7968; p < 0.001) over the years. The United States led the list, with 1435 publications (31.73%), followed by Germany (249 publications, 5.51%) and China (235 publications, 5.2%). Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was the leading journal, with 421 articles (9.31%), followed by Aesthetic Plastic Surgery with 123 articles (2.72%). Before 2005, silicone implant research focused mainly on breast reconstruction and the impact of implants on breast cancer detection. Recent research trends suggest a shift towards long-term results, revision surgeries for joint implants, psychological and functional outcomes in patients with arthroplasty, and innovations in implant materials, sustainability, and environmental concerns. In conclusion, this bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution of scientific knowledge related to silicone implants. Understanding the development of scientific knowledge about silicone implants is essential for the global scientific community, policymakers, and plastic surgeons. This understanding helps improve the effectiveness of future research and offers valuable insights into the role of silicone implants in augmentation, reconstructive surgery, and plastic surgery while also addressing their potential impacts.Level of Evidence V 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 .