Capsular Contracture Dallas

What Is Capsular Contracture?

Breast Implant Surgery involves creating an incision line, often under the breast, so that the chosen breast implant can be inserted either above the chest muscle or below. The incisions are closed with stitches and over the next few weeks the incision lines will heal and the implants will settle into position in the breasts. For information on breast implant surgery, you can view our blog ‘Breast Implant FAQS’ or view our recovery blog ‘Aftercare Tips And Instructions For Breast Augmentation Patients In Dallas‘.

After the implant has been inserted the body forms fibrous scar tissue around the implant. This is a natural response by the body to a foreign object and it results in a tissue capsule forming around the implants. This capsule is normally unnoticeable and does not have any effect on the patient. However, capsular contracture is where the capsule tightens and ends up pushing against or squeezing the breast implant. This can cause significant pain in the breast and can also impact the breast’s shape and position. There are four grades of capsular contracture depending on the severity.

American Society of Plastic Surgery explains that capsular contracture is not usually dangerous to the patient. They state that the main issue for breast augmentation patients is that it impacts the appearance of the breasts and therefore alters the aesthetic result of the surgery. Since this is the sole reason the procedure is undertaken, aesthetic alterations from capsular contracture tend to be undesirable.

Symptoms Of Capsular Contracture Breast Implant

Patients experiencing these symptoms or who are worried they have capsular contracture should book to see their surgeon to discover the most suitable action. Some of the main symptoms of capsular contracture include:

• Breast pain
• Breast asymmetry
• Firmness in the breast
• Tightness of the chest
• Breast implant moves in position

What Causes Capsular Contracture?

There is nothing in particular that surgeons or patients do that causes capsular contracture. However, some of the factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing capsular contracture include:

• Hematoma (build-up of blood)
• Developing an infection of your implant
• Genetics 
• A family history of autoimmune disease
• How our bodies form scars
• Size of implant in comparison to the patient
• Implant placed on top of the muscle
• An implant rupture 
• Radiation therapy

How To Prevent Capsular Contracture

American Society of Plastic Surgery explains that it is not possible to prevent capsular contracture from occurring and is beyond the control of both the surgeon and the patients. They outline that the only possible preventative strategy is conducting patient screening before procedures to determine health conditions that may increase the likelihood of capsular contracture occurring. Additionally, to remove the possibility of capsular contracture occurring, patients could undergo a Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation Procedure. This procedure is used to enhance the breasts using a fat transfer so does not require implants. For more information on what a fat transfer procedure involves, you can read our blog ‘A Patient’s Guide To A Fat Transfer Procedure In Dallas’.

With regards to the actual breast augmentation surgery, they explain that using a suitable-sized implant for a patient is important as patients who have insufficient tissue over the implant are more likely to develop a capsule around the implant. Implants also should not be handled before they are inserted as this increases the risk of infection which also increases the risk of capsular contracture. 

Healthline also discusses the benefits of massaging the breasts to help prevent the capsule from hardening. Most surgeons will recommend that breast augmentation patients massage their breasts daily using specific techniques to help prevent capsular contracture from occurring.