Evaluating the properties of silicone hoses for aesthetic surgery subjected to cycles of reuse

Although is not recommending by manufacturer companies, some devices used in surgery are reused. In fact, nowadays is not clear the regulations for these practices in many countries. However, for many institutions around the world, reuse is a common practice. This paper presents the results from tests when evaluate changes in mechanical, structural and topography properties of a surgical silicone hose subjected to nine reuses in an aesthetic clinic, by means of tensile test, FTIR and optical microscopy. The results showed that the material undergoes a high wear in terms of its inner surface texture, likewise, the sterilization process modifies the structure of the polymer, and the mechanical properties suffer small changes as well.