Collagen also forms around any foreign object in our body to protect us from such implants, like breast implants. In this case the collagen that forms around breast implants is normal and is our friend. It becomes our enemy when this collagen formation increases. This is what causes capsular contracture.
Collagen is a protein that makes up connective tissues, such as the skin. When you have too much collagen, your skin can stretch, thicken, and harden. It also can cause damage to internal organs, such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.
It's clear that the role of collagen in scar formation is important and is also the reason why some scars appear different than others. Too little collagen will result in a sunken atrophic scar and too much collagen will result in a raised keloid or hypertrophic scar.
Blood is a natural host for bacteria, therefore it is no surprise that blood accumulation around an implant is the number one cause of capsular contracture. While surgeons are able to prevent bleeding from arteries and veins after surgery, they can't prevent capillary leakage.
If you've had radiation therapy at any time in the past — and particularly if you had it after your initial breast reconstruction surgery — it can greatly increase your risk of developing capsular contracture.
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.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Prevent Breast Implant Complications, Like Capsular Contracture.
Typically, patients who develop capsular contracture begin to notice the symptoms in the first several months – up to about two years – after surgery, though it can occur at any time.
Collagen build-up in the muscles
The collagen deposits within muscles and fascia that cause fibrosis and manifest as pain and stiffness. This build-up is are a result of many years of wear and tear (movement and/or stagnation) of the body.
Like keloid scars, hypertrophic scars are the result of excess collagen being produced at the site of a wound. Unlike keloid scars, hypertrophic scars do not extend beyond the boundary of the original wound. They may continue to thicken for up to 6 months before gradually improving over a few years.
Reported side effects have affected a relatively small number of people and have typically been related to the digestive system. Collagen is a protein, after all, and your body has to work to break it down. Some have reported experiencing indigestion, bloating, and gas after taking too much collagen.
The only effective treatment for capsular contracture is currently capsulotomy or capsulectomy with implant removal or a change in the plane of insertion.
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.
In the literature, capsular contracture most commonly occurs after the first and second years post-surgery [22]. Hence, we reported two unique cases that developed capsular contractures nine weeks and eight weeks after their most recent breast surgery.
Grade I - the breast is soft and appears normal, and the capsule is flexible. Grade II - the breast looks normal, but is somewhat hard to the touch. Grade III - the breast is hard, has some distortion caused by contracture, or the breast becomes a rounded shape, or the implant is generally tilted upwards.
What Is Capsular Contracture? This is a condition caused by the immune system that occurs when the scar tissue around a foreign material begins to tighten. For breast implants, contracture develops as a healing response to the implant, which causes the implant to be squeezed by the scar tissue.
Sometimes, the location of the implants gets changed – for example from being sub-glandular to sub-muscular. Although the capsular contracture can be corrected, there is a risk it can return. Dr.
If this occurs, surgical revision may be necessary, and contracture may in some cases recur despite careful re-operation. Avoidance of most cases of capsular contracture is possible, in our opinion, by careful initial surgery and patient compliance with postoperative instructions.
There are a couple of prescription medications that have demonstrated some effectiveness for preventing the progression of capsular contracture. Depending on the individual case, medications may even soften the tissue enough to completely reverse the condition.
Background: The combination of pentoxifylline (Trental) and vitamin E has been reported to reverse significant consequences of radiation after mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, such as severe capsular contracture or loss of implants.