Capsular contracture symptoms include increasing firmness or tightness in the breast. Signs of the condition can start to appear as early as a few months after your breast implant reconstruction surgery or even years afterward.
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.
Women who choose implants for their breast reconstruction (after mastectomy or lumpectomy) might have a higher rate of developing capsular contracture if they chose to insert their implants prior to finishing all of their cancer treatment (such as radiation).
Symptoms of Encapsulated Breast Implants
Visible distortion or asymmetry of the breast. Swelling, redness, and warmth in the breast area. Dimpling or wrinkling of the skin over the breast. A feeling of tightness or firmness in the breast.
If you suspect capsular contracture at any point following your breast surgery, contact the plastic surgeon who performed your procedure immediately.
Though it's impossible to eliminate the risk of capsular contracture for every patient, plastic surgery has come a long way in reducing the dangers. To that end, Dr. Armijo employs several preventive strategies to help ensure your implants are healthy for years to come.
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.
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%.
Capsular contracture is caused by an excessive fibrotic reaction to a foreign body (the implant) and has an overall incidence of 10.6%.
Patients with grade four capsular contracture also experience breast soreness; their breasts will often be tender and painful to the touch.
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.
' Often, patients with lower grades of capsular contracture may have no symptoms or pain at all. If this is the case, it can likely be monitored and left alone, unless it becomes a larger problem. However, in higher grades of capsular contracture, patients may feel breast pain and their breasts may feel more tender.
If capsular contracture occurs, it will usually happen within the first few months after your breast augmentation procedure. You may notice the signs of capsular contracture as soon as 4-6 weeks after surgery, or in the following 3-4 months. However, once six months have passed, capsular contracture is very uncommon.
A certain amount of capsular contracture often occurs over time; however, if a severe or painful capsular contracture occurs within a relatively short time, the patients can experience physical and mental pain as a result of the reconstruction, which defeats its purpose.
The surgeon may also opt to use the Keller funnel method to minimise the possibility of capsular contracture occurring. That said, capsular contracture remains an unfortunate risk in any breast augmentation procedure. In almost all cases, it is neither the fault of you, the patient, nor the fault of your surgeon.
A surgical procedure will be required to correct the Capsular Contracture. Depending on the woman's anatomy, saline or silicone implants, the severity of scar tissue, and if any leakage is present, either an Open Capsulotomy, or a Capsulectomy will be performed.
Painful or uncomfortable implants can indicate a number of issues that require a breast implant revision, including capsular contracture, damaged lymph nodes, a developing seroma, pinched nerves or poor implant placement. If you have silicone implants, pain may be a sign your implant has ruptured or is leaking.
Some surgeons or medical professionals recommend additional techniques for minimizing your risk of getting capsular contracture: Avoid vigorous activity for the first several weeks of your recovery. Strenuous exercise can increase your blood pressure, raise your heart rate and cause bleeding around your new implants.
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 doesn't get better over time – it can get worse.
Move your breast 360 degrees in a full circle. Repeat on the other breast. Rotate each breast two or three times a week. This simple massage can help keep the capsule around the implant flexible and prevent the scar tissue from becoming too stiff and thick.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids May Prevent Breast Implant Complications, Like Capsular Contracture.
Many surgeons will advise patients to massage smooth-shelled implants postoperatively in order to keep the implant pocket open. Textured-shelled implants are meant to allow very fine tissue ingrowth into the shell, which reduces the risk of capsular contracture.