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Capsular contracture occurs when the scar tissue that forms around a breast implant becomes too firm. It’s natural for a layer of scar tissue to form around any implant, and the body does this to protect itself from anything it recognizes as foreign. The scar tissue is called a capsule and it’s part of the healing process. This barrier of scar tissue helps keep implants in place and prevent slippage.
In most cases, the capsule causes no problems, but in some patients, problems do develop. Signs that you need a capsular contraction doctor include:
Some women experience restricted movement of their chest muscles. Symptoms may develop a few months after surgery or develop years later. They usually start mildly and get progressively worse.
You can find expert capsular contracture treatment in Midtown Manhattan and Great Neck, Long Island at New York Breast Surgery Center. Both David Shokrian, MD and Mohamed Soliman Ahmed Elfar, MD, MS, FACS provide advanced treatment of capsular contracture after breast implants fail to look and feel the way you expect.
The standard approach to capsular contracture treatment after your implant surgery depends on the severity of your symptoms. Mild cases may not require surgery. If you’ve developed this complication, however, contact the best NYC plastic surgeon for breast implants capsular contracture treatment because the condition won’t go away without it.
“If you notice any unexpected changes to the feel, shape or appearance of your breasts, contact us to at least gauge the severity of contracture,” says Dr. Shokrian. “We may be able to alleviate your discomfort with a minor procedure, or you may need capsular contracture repair. Either way, don’t wait to get answers.”
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the exact cause of capsular contracture isn’t well understood. Some women develop this complication while others don’t. Genetics seem to play a role in developing this condition, so your risk of experiencing this complication may be higher if you have a family member who developed thick scar tissue after an injury or has a history of an autoimmune disease.
Some cases of capsular contracture are caused by a bacterium that develops around implants. Leakage or rupture of the implant, even several years after surgery, may also trigger capsular contracture. In rare cases, blood clots form after surgery and increase the risk of developing this condition.
Dr. Shokrian adds, “Capsular contracture can happen anytime a medical implant is inserted into the body — it doesn’t only occur with breast implants. Dr. Elfar and I, both highly experienced plastic surgeons, greatly reduce your risks of surgical complications during your breast augmentation procedure because we’ve performed so many of these procedures.”
A skilled capsular contracture doctor identifies various degrees of capsular contracture, typically categorized as grades. Your surgeon determines the grade you’re experiencing to determine the best approach to capsular contracture repair. There are four grades of the condition, including:
Not all cases of capsular contracture have symptoms so obvious. If you have moderate to severe symptoms that may be considered Grade III or Grade IV, you require medical intervention from a qualified capsular contracture doctor. Seek a consultation as soon as you can.
Non-surgical approaches to capsular contracture repair are an option if you have capsular contracture in an early stage. According to the National Library of Medicine, your inflammatory response appears to have a role in developing this condition. Using a leukotriene antagonist called Zafirlukast off-label may alter the inflammatory response for some women with mild cases of capsular contracture.
Massaging your breast, as well as ultrasound therapy, are other options that may improve symptoms for some women in the early stages, but these methodologies don’t always work. If you have more severe capsular contracture after breast implants, you must get a surgical intervention.
There are some surgical options that allow you to still have implants, although you also have the option of having your breast implants removed. Surgical capsular contracture treatment options include:
“Since we don’t fully understand the cause of capsular contracture,” explains Dr. Shokrian, “there’s a chance it could happen again if your body continues to react to the breast implants the same way. The advanced surgical techniques we use minimize the risk of experiencing this complication a second time, but we can’t definitively rule out the possibility.”
Some, but certainly not all, women prefer to have implants completely removed rather than take a risk of having the same problem. Others decide to try an implant-free fat transfer breast augmentation. Capsular contracture treatment is an outpatient procedure, so you return home the same day, but it does require the use of general anesthesia. Plan to bring someone to drive you home afterward.
Have questions about capsular contracture? Find answers to some of the most common questions below.
Recovery time varies and can also depend on the extent of your procedure. It’s usually quicker than your initial surgery for breast augmentation. In most cases, you can return to your normal activities within a few weeks after the surgery.
There’s no way to guarantee you won’t need capsular contracture treatment, but there are some precautions to reduce your risk. Reviewing your medical history before surgery and choosing the right size and type of implants with your plastic surgeon’s guidance helps. Placing the implants under your chest muscle may also reduce the risk of capsular contracture.
Insurance may partially cover treatment for capsular contracture if the condition is causing severe pain and disfigurement. Your insurance policy is more likely to cover treatment if your surgery was as part of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy, rather than augmentation done for aesthetic reasons. Contact your insurance company to review your coverage.
The team at New York Breast Surgery Center is committed to providing the best possible care for you. Contact the Center for more information. You can also visit one of two locations: in Manhattan or in Long Island. The first step is a consultation and exam.
If you’re from outside New York, the Center offers you the capability to attend a virtual consultation with one of the best capsular contracture surgeon via teleconference. The Center also has recovery suites and hotel partnerships for your healing process. They can provide you with a fly-in/fly-out timeline to get your implants fixed and get home.
Facility Safety Note: All surgical procedures are performed at our JCAHO-accredited flagship surgical center in Bryant Park, Manhattan (HCO ID: 676295). Consultations, minimally invasive procedures and pre/post-operative care are available at our Bronx and Great Neck locations.
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