| Copyright (c) 2008 Dr. Robert Kenevan | | | | contracture, it often becomes an on-going issue. |
| There are over a million breast augmentation surgeries | | | | Though the exact causes of capsular contracture are |
| performed each year and statistics show that this | | | | largely unknown and it occurs in about 5% of patients, |
| number only continues to rise. Many of the women | | | | and that translates into 5 out of every 100. |
| choosing to under go a breast enlargement surgery do | | | | There are factors that can contribute to capsular |
| not become a statistic and develop one of the | | | | contracture, including: |
| standard complications. But for a small percentage of | | | | *Germ contamination during implantation |
| women, this is not the case. | | | | *Seroma (the development of extra fluid around |
| The most commonly seen complications are: | | | | implant) |
| *Hematoma: a collection of clotted blood | | | | *Hematoma (internal bleeding) *Infection |
| *Seroma: a collection of the watery portion of the | | | | *Smoking |
| blood | | | | *Placement of implant above muscle (when placed |
| *Infection: an infection often requires the implant to be | | | | bellow the muscle capsular contracture occurs with |
| removed and left out for a period of time Infections | | | | significant less frequency) |
| usually occur with the first 4 to 6 weeks. The general | | | | There are known ways to help prevent capsular |
| consensus is that infection with Breast Augmentation | | | | contracture. Placing the implant under the muscle and |
| occurs in less than 2% of patients. | | | | massage therapy. Sub-pectoral placement of the |
| *Deflation: The deflation or rupture of an implant from | | | | implant significantly reduces the chances of developing |
| an injury, from wear and tear, or from an improperly | | | | capsular contracture and massaging (and or |
| under filled implant. | | | | compressing) the breast and implant for a period of |
| *Double bubble: when the breast tissue may fall and | | | | time from a few weeks, or for as long as you have |
| create one set of breasts and the implant staying in its | | | | your implants, have been known to be effective. |
| rightful pocket under the muscle creates the | | | | If non-surgical methods do not work then surgery may |
| appearance of a bubble. | | | | be necessary to correct the capsular contracture. |
| *Bottoming out: when the lower parts of the breast | | | | There is more than one surgical option available for |
| have lost their tissue support and the natural crease is | | | | treatment, and you would need the recommendations |
| slowly lowering itself. | | | | of a board-certified cosmetic surgeon to find out what |
| *Capsular Contracture: hardening of the capsule | | | | you would need for you own unique situation. |
| surrounding the implant | | | | For each woman the desired surgical and long term |
| Understanding Capsular Contracture: | | | | results are going to be different. If you find yourself in |
| Capsular contracture is when the tissue around the | | | | the position of wanting to get as much information as |
| breast implant becomes hard, and squeezes the | | | | you can before you choose to have a breast |
| implant. The breast can become compacted and very | | | | enlargement or you are one of the women who is |
| round, and in some cases, have the "baseball" | | | | experiencing any of these complications, it is very |
| appearance. Your breast could look deformed and it | | | | important that you discuss your questions and |
| can be very painful. | | | | concerns with an experienced, board-certified surgeon. |
| It may happen repeatedly to one breast over and over | | | | These complications and most others are quite not |
| or it may happen to both breasts only once. This rarely | | | | common and can be prevented by going into surgery |
| ever goes away on its own. Nor does it tend to stay | | | | healthy and closely following post operative |
| "fixed" after a revision surgery is performed. For the | | | | instructions. |
| majority of women who suffer from capsular | | | | |