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Sometimes, no matter how skilled a surgeon is, there are still chances of complications arising during or after breast augmentation surgery. Some patients may develop complications within a few weeks, while others may not after years. This is because everybody’s body is different.
The composition of connective tissue varies from patient to patient, and when it comes to the healing process, it may differ, too. Furthermore, some individuals tend to develop thick scar tissue after any kind of penetration in their skin. On the other hand, others can sustain deep cuts and develop only subtle scarring that fades over time.
One of the most common complications that patients experience after breast augmentation surgery is breast implant capsular contracture. In this comprehensive article, let’s discuss in detail capsular contracture, who is at high risk of developing it, its causes, symptoms & signs, and treatments to treat this chronic situation.
What is Breast Implant Capsular Contracture?
Once a breast implant is in place, fibrous scar tissue forms around it and creates a tissue capsule. The body forms a protective capsule after detecting a foreign object, such as a breast implant. The tissue capsule is generally soft or slightly firm and helps the implants to keep in place.
However, in some cases, the tissue capsule that forms is usually hard and dense. These capsule tighten around the breasts and squeeze the implants. The tissue capsule is generally soft or slightly firm and helps the implants stay in place. However, in some cases, the tissue capsule that forms is usually hard and dense. These capsule tighten around the breasts and squeeze the implants.
This condition is generally known as capsular contracture. It is one of the possible and common complications of breast implant augmentation surgery. Capsular contracture of breast implant can distort the breast implant and sometimes make it shift upwards on the chest, which can cause severe pain to a patient.
A study has shown that about one in six patients has experienced some degree of capsular contracture. Let’s check out the severity of breast implant capsular contracture using the grading system:
| Grade | Description |
| Grade I: | The breasts are soft and look natural |
| Grade II: | The breast is slightly firm but looks normal |
| Grade III: | The breast is firm and looks abnormal |
| Grade IV: | The breast is hard, painful, and looks abnormal |
Who is at Risk of Developing Capsular Contracture?
If you’ve had radiation therapy at any time in the past, and especially if you had it after your breast augmentation surgery, it can significantly increase the risk of developing capsular contracture. However, the exact reason some individuals develop capsular contracture of breast implants while others may not is still unknown.
Let’s check out the list of factors that may increase the risk of developing breast implant capsular contracture, which includes:
- Infection during the surgery
- A genetic predisposition to forming scars
- Breast implant rupture
- A buildup of blood where the tissue was removed during the surgery is known as a hematoma.
Causes of Capsular Contracture Breast Implants
The formation of fibrous tissue is the natural response to a foreign object inside the body. It can later become problematic when the following symptoms cause the tissue to become hard and stiff.
| Causes | Description |
| Seroma | A seroma is a collection of serous fluid within the body tissues. This fluid can accumulate around the implant after the surgery. However, it may go on their own but can increase inflammation and stimulte the formation of scar tissue. This will later become hard and form breast implant capsular contracture. |
| Bacterial Contamination
|
Bacterial contamination during surgery might trigger the healing response, which can cause capsular contracture. Only a few bacteria can stimulate the body to create thicker and more constrictive capsules. Therefore, it is always recommended to follow strict sterilization techniques during breast augmentation surgery. |
| Hematoma
|
Collection of blood inside the body tissues that can occur after the breast augmentation surgery is known as hematoma. If this condition develops around the breast implants then the risk of capsular contracture may increase eventually.
However, breast implant capsular contracture can be performed to treat this condition by an expert surgeon. |
| Surgical Techniques | A surgeon’s techniques can greatly impact the risk of capsular contracture. In simple words, this means the way the surgeon handles the implant during the surgery can have an impact how will it affect the entire procedure. |
| Types of Implants Used | The choice of breast implants can also affect the chances of capsular contracture. Even some researches have shown that textured implants have a lower risk as compared to smoother ones. |
Common Symptoms and Signs of Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture symptoms include increasing firmness or tightness around the breasts. Signs of capsular contracture can start to appear after a few months or even years following the breast augmentation surgery. Furthermore, you may also require corrective surgery for breast implant capsular contracture if it causes chronic pain, restricts your range of motion, and causes a change in the shape of the breasts.
Treatments for Capsular Contracture Breast Implants
Let’s check out some of the options available for correcting capsular contracture of breast implants, including:
- Capsulectomy:- During a capsulectomy, the professional surgeon removes the existing breast implant and the surrounding tissue capsules as well. Then, insert a new breast implant that is wrapped in a sheet of dermal matrix material. This layer provides extra protection for your breast implant. Later, your body forms a new layer of capsules around your new breast implant.
- Open Capsulotomy:-An open capsulotomy is a surgical procedure that removes or releases scar tissue around a breast implant. During this procedure, a plastic surgeon makes small incisions in the breast to cut open the scar tissue capsule around the breast implant. The goal is to give the implant more room to move around easily.
- Flag Reconstruction Surgery:- Flap reconstruction is a breast reconstruction surgery that uses tissue from another part of your body to create a breast. The tissue (which is called a flap) is taken from a donor site, such as the back, buttocks, abdomen, and thighs. Then, the flap is moved to the chest wall to create a breast shape. One of the main advantages of using this approach is that it eliminates the risk of capsular contracture of breast implants happening again. Flap reconstruction surgery is more complex and requires a longer recovery time than any other surgery.
Conclusion
Capsular contracture is a common complication after breast enhancement surgery. While it can be frustrating and uncomfortable for many patients. However, understanding the causes and symptoms can help you take proactive steps to minimise your risk.
If you experience any signs of capsular contracture breast implants, it’s essential to consult with a qualified plastic surgeon for proper diagnosis and treatment. By seeking timely medical attention, you can address the issue and restore the desired results of your breast augmentation procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is capsular contracture of breast implants?
Capsular contracture is a complication of breast implant surgery that occurs when the scar tissue around the breast implants gets hard and tight. This can also distort the appearance of the breast and make the patient feel severe pain and discomfort.
2. What causes breast implant capsular contracture?
Capsular contracture is a common complication of breast implants that occurs when the body creates hard, fibrous capsules around the implant. The exact cause of capsular contracture breast implants is unknown, but here are some factors that may influence it, are:
- Implant type
- Implant placement
- Implant material
- Previous radiotherapy
- infection
3. How to prevent breast implant capsular contracture?
Some of the ways to prevent the risk of breast implant capsular contracture are:
- Massage
- Take proper medication
- Attend follow-up appointments
- Follow post-operative care instructions
4. How to prevent capsular contracture after breast augmentation surgery?
Some of the preventive measures that you can take to avoid capsular contracture of breast implants are:
- Following post-operative care
- Regular check-ups
- Massage therapy
5. Can you get rid of capsular contracture without surgery?
Yes, capsular contracture can be treated without surgery. However, it depends on factors such as the stage, case, and grade of the breast issues. Non-surgical breast capsular contracture treatment can be highly effective and helpful when patients do not prefer surgical methods.
6. What are the common symptoms associated with capsular contracture?
Some of the common signs of capsular contracture are:
- Breasts sit high on the chest after surgery
- Pain around the breast
- Mishappen or unnatural-looking breasts
- Wrinkling of the breast implants
7. Can capsular contracture happen immediately?
It can take several months or several years for capsular contracture of breast implants to develop after breast implant surgery.