Capsular Contracture
If you’ve had breast augmentation and you’ve noticed that your breasts are beginning to feel hard or uncomfortable, you may be experiencing capsular contracture. Dr. Sadrian is ready to help you and resolve this concerning situation quickly and effectively with San Diego capsular contracture treatment at his private practice in La Jolla.
Capsular contracture is a potential complication of breast augmentation which can occur at random. The capsule is the tissue your body naturally forms around any foreign object, such as a breast implant. Capsular contracture is the thickening or tightening of the capsule. The tissue, or capsule, becomes infected and begins to squeeze the implants and cause uncomfortable firmness and pain.
Capsular contracture has a grading system of I through IV. The first grade is a soft, normal capsule. The breast looks and feels natural, as it usually would. The fourth grade is the most severe, and presents as a hard, painful capsule. The breast is hard and painful and looks and feels abnormal.
Surgery is required to treat Grades 3 and 4.
Unfortunately, for women who have to experience this concern, capsular contracture is painful. Besides pain and discomfort, there are a number of other symptoms that can help ascertain whether there is capsular contracture:
Capsular contracture usually occurs within the first few months after breast augmentation. It can occur as soon as 4-6 weeks after surgery, but this complication is very uncommon once six months have passed after the initial breast augmentation surgery. Dr. Sadrian will listen to your concerns, examine your breasts, and may perform other tests to properly diagnose a case of capsular contracture. Based on the symptoms, appearance of the breasts, and other factors, he will ascertain exactly what the situation is so that it can be properly addressed with custom capsular contracture treatment in San Diego at his private facilities.
Capsular contracture can sometimes be genetic. Those with a family history of auto-immune disorders may have a greater risk of the potentiality of capsular contracture. At the same time, capsular contracture most often occurs by random chance. Unfortunately, there is no certain preventative against capsular contracture, but there are some ways to help reduce the potential of it happening. Here is some basic information to keep in mind regarding this:
While it is not certain exactly what causes capsular contracture, it's likely that the exact causes of this condition vary from patient to patient. The following are likely causes of capsular contracture.
A breast lift corrects drooping breasts that hang low on the chest wall due to age, genetics, pregnancy, weight loss, or other factors. A breast lift removes extra skin and lifts the breasts higher to achieve a lifted, symmetrical shape that achieves a youthful balance. The nipples are tilted upward evenly and placed higher to achieve and attractive, youthful-looking tilt.
A hematoma or seroma may provide nutrients for bacteria to feed on, which increases the chance of capsular contracture-causing biofilm growing and developing. Dr. Sadrian provides drains to help ensure that blood and fluid do not collect for those patients that require it.
If breast cancer treatment is not fully complete, meaning that radiation treatments are not fully complete after a mastectomy or lumpectomy, and breast implants are inserted, this might increase of the risk of capsular contracture.
Genetics can cause patients to be prone to developing thick scar tissue, and women who have a family history of autoimmune disease or scarring concerns may have a higher risk of developing capsular contracture.
From what physicians know, capsular contracture has no easily identifiable source. While the above causes are possible in different cases, they cannot be easily predicted. Ultimately, capsular contracture appears to come down to chance.
Once the signs of capsular contracture begin to appear, it’s important to contact Dr. Sadrian right away and have it treated properly and effectively with capsular contracture treatment. Your incisions will be made in the same spot as they were during your original implant surgery. Once the incisions are made, Dr. Sadrian may simply remove the capsule tissue, or he may remove both the capsule tissue and the implant.
If capsular contracture is caught early enough, it may be possible to remove a portion of the scar tissue only, rather than the implant itself. This procedure creates more space in the breast pocket and can be effective in correcting early capsular contracture.
If capsular contracture is more advanced, the procedure required is a capsulectomy. A capsulectomy removes the entire breast implant and the surrounding capsule. Based on your aesthetic goals for your breasts, new implants may be inserted as a part of this procedure.
After your capsular contracture surgery in our San Diego facility, you will need a family member or friend to drive you home and stay with you for the night. There will be pain and swelling, and you will wear a surgical bra to help reduce the swelling and support your breasts for a period of weeks. In many cases, the recovery after a capsular contracture surgery is often easier than a first breast implant surgery. You should be able to return to work or your usual activities within a week or so, once you feel more comfortable. Although you may feel healed after a couple of weeks, your breasts will take a few months to settle into their new position and heal completely. Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous exercise for six weeks.
Dr. Sadrian is a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Diego, with extraordinary credentials and nearly two decades of experience. His artistic eye, advanced technical skills and outstanding results make him one of the most popular plastic surgeons in San Diego. Dr. Sadrian is dedicated to his patients, and ensures they are given all the time, care and attention they require. Dr. Sadrian’s experience, expertise and stunning outcomes are the reason so many women trust and count on him to help them achieve their aesthetic goals. Call for a consultation for capsular contracture treatment today.
Patients may return to work within one week if they are comfortable and feel they have healed enough.
You will wear a surgical bra for several days.
If the capsular contracture is caught early and the case is mild, non-invasive ultrasound and massage therapy may help to alleviate pain and possibly reduce the risk or further development of capsular contracture.
Prior to your capsular contracture procedure, ensure you follow any directions to prepare from Dr. Sadrian. Stop smoking or taking any vitamins that have any blood thinning properties.
Yes, it is generally considered safe to have new implants inserted after capsular contracture treatment. Dr. Sadrian does all he can to reduce capsular contracture risk, including using antibiotics in the breast implant pocket, special handling of the implants, and a no-touch technique on the skin.
Capsular contracture is somewhat rare, but unfortunately recurrent contracture is high. A diligent, precise surgeon does everything they can to remove all signs of biofilm or bacteria. Choosing a highly skilled breast surgeon with experience in this treatment is highly essential to help reduce the risk.
Capsular contracture can appear in both breasts, but most women experience capsular contracture in just one breast.
The decision to undergo a cosmetic procedure is extremely personal. If you are considering an enhancement, you want to be confident that your results will appear fresh and natural – and like you. Dr. Sadrian is among the finest plastic surgeons practicing in the San Diego area and has achieved acclaim for consistently achieving natural-looking results. Schedule an appointment to learn more.
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