Capsular contracture is a local complication thought to occur due to an excessive fibrotic foreign body reaction to the implant. It is thought to be an inflammatory reaction which causes fibrosis through the production of collagen [3], leading to excessively firm and painful breasts [6].
The use of textured gel implants: Using gel implants with a textured surface, rather than a smooth surface, has been shown to reduce the likelihood of capsular contraction. It is thought that the textured surface of the implant makes it more difficult for thick scar tissue to develop around the implant.
Some of the other factors that may raise the risk of capsular contracture include rupture of an implant, hematoma (a build-up of blood where tissue was removed during surgery), developing a microbial biofilm (subclinical infection) on an implant, and a genetic predisposition to forming scars.
When patients have implants removed and immediately replaced for capsular contracture, the subsequent risk of repeat contracture is as high as 70%!. This now makes sense, because as long as a speck of bacteria is still in the old space, the biofilm and contracture can recur.
Genetic Predisposition
Patients who are prone to developing thick scar tissue or have a family history of autoimmune disease may be at a heightened risk of capsular contracture.
Capsular contracture is caused by an excessive fibrotic reaction to a foreign body (the implant) and has an overall incidence of 10.6%.
Thank you so much for this question. Capsular contracture unfortunately is a known complication of breast implant surgery occurring 1% per year for a patient. In your case the risk would be 1%.
The only effective treatment for capsular contracture is currently capsulotomy or capsulectomy with implant removal or a change in the plane of insertion.
Early signs of capsular contracture may include a firm or tight sensation, pain, or asymmetry. As the condition worsens, you may notice more obvious symptoms, including: Breast pain. Asymmetry.
Capsular contracture can be treated and is not life-threatening. Nevertheless, if it's not treated, the scar tissue will likely progress to become more hard, tight, and in some cases, painful. It can eventually lead to deformed breasts in those who have had breast augmentations.
Various breast massage and implant displacement techniques are believed to reduce the incidence of capsular contracture and are commonly recommended after breast augmentation.
Capsular Contracture: Heavy activity before you have healed enough from breast augmentation can cause capsular contracture, an uncomfortable condition that can only be corrected with surgery.
3. Vitamin E 800-1200 mg a day. This is believed to interfere with the formation of collagen and thus, soften scar tissue and prevent contracture. There is no proven efficacy once capsular contracture is established.
Capsular contracture is one of the most common complications following breast implant surgery. 1 Statistics for its rate of occurrence can range from 0.5% to 30%.
Zafirlukast (Accolate)
Accolate has also been shown to decrease the recurrence of capsular contracture in patients undergoing capsulectomy. If you have a capsular contracture, most plastic surgeons will most likely recommend a trial of Accolate before considering surgical intervention.
This capsule, made of primarily of collagen, can contain some scar tissue which, over time, may harden and squeeze the implant. This condition, known as capsular contracture, can produce discomfort and can alter the appearance of your breasts.
If you suspect you may have a case of capsular contracture, talk to your plastic surgeon. Capsular contracture doesn't get better over time – it can get worse.
The least invasive treatment measures for capsular contracture are nonsurgical. They include massage and medications. Increasing your daily dosage of vitamin E can be effective. Vitamin E rubbed on an external scar will soften tissue and orally taken vitamin E can have the same effect on contracted capsule tissue.
Can Capsular Contracture Go Away by Itself? Because capsular contracture is the result of excessive scar tissue around the implants, it does not go away on its own. Your symptoms may plateau or continue to worsen. The risk of capsular contracture is that the breast implant may rupture or leak.
There are no non-surgical remedies for capsular contracture. Performing a total en bloc capsulectomy via an inframammary incision, and delivering a textured implant using an implant delivery funnel can reduce your risk significantly for recurrence.
Breast augmentation: compression--a very important factor in preventing capsular contracture.
The reality is, it still happened regardless of what you do, and massaging the breast too much can make the pocket so large that the implants fall into the arm pit. Furthermore, excess massaging may increase the risk of capsular contracture by causing micro tears in the soft capsule.
I have found ultrasound therapy to be a highly effective treatment for patients who have developed capsular contracture symptoms within 6 months of their breast augmentation; after this initial healing period, a capsulectomy is typically needed to remove the scar tissue from around a patient's implants, as the tissue ...