Capsular Contracture Surgery
A breast implant capsular contracture can be a painful and unsightly experience. One should undertake certain precautions to lower the risk of capsular contracture.
Implant Size Revision | Capsular Contracture | Symmastia
Bottoming Out | Ruptured Implant | Double Bubble
Capsular contracture is the leading complication for breast augmentation patients. It occurs in approximately 5% of breast augmentation patients. Although the capsule is a fully natural occurrence within the body, it can cause the breast to become hard and produce visible distortion of the breast.
A capsule occurs with virtually every foreign object that is placed inside the body. It is a scar-like shell of collagen fibers that encases the object and under normal circumstances is completely harmless. In some cases the capsule grows very thick and tightens around the breast implant causing the breast to feel very dense and possibly painful and appears misshapen. It is still unknown to science why a capsule becomes so severe that it grows to this extent.
Capsular contracture is measured in four different levels (grades 1-4) with the fourth level being the most severe with the need for corrective surgery to remove the capsule.
There are theories based on statistics as to why capsular contracture occurs. Possible factors that may increase the chance of capsular contracture.
Capsular Contracture Risks
• Infections during or after surgery (dental work).
• Implant rupture (gel or silicone).
• Subglandular breast implant placement.
• Radiation (before or after breast augmentation surgery).
• Introduction of bacteria to the implant during or after surgery.
• Hematoma or seroma.
• Autoimmune disease.
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> Implant Volume / Size Revision
Patients with saline implants who aren't happy with the volume or size of their breasts can elect to have revision surgery to add or remove saline from their implants. Silicone patients would have to purchase a new silicone implant in the desired size.
> Capsular Contracture
This is the most common complication for breast implant patients. A capsule is the fibrous tissue that grows around the breast implant (as with any foreign object placed in the body).
> Symmastia
The breasts appear too close at the center and the implants can appear to be touching each other. Symmastia (aka - uniboob, breadloafing) occurs only when an implant is placed under the muscle (submuscular) and the pectoralis muscle is severed from the sternum.
> Bottoming Out
Breast implants that have bottomed out can have nipples that appear too high or an inframammary fold that appears unnaturally low.
> Ruptured Implants
Decreased breast size, uneven breasts, pain or swelling can indicate a ruptured breast implant (saline or silicone breast implants). Most ruptures are covered by the implant manufacturer, although surgical costs for replacing the damaged implant are still incurred.
> Double Bubble
When tissue hangs beneath an implant which has been placed submuscular, this is referred to as a double bubble or high-riding implant. This usually occurs with an individual who has sagging breasts before their breast augmentation surgery.
