Breast Revision: Know What May Occur When You Face Capsular Contracture

Some people with implants experience capsular contracture, which is an issue that may show up weeks after surgery, or years later. In some cases the problem is minor and is only noticed by a doctor, while other times, the issue is major and needs to be repaired immediately. Consider the basic details surrounding this risk of implants, and then find out how breast revision surgery can help.

Capsular contracture occurs when blood vessels, myofibroblasts, and collagen all tighten up around the implant. This is a normal response by the body when it comes to foreign objects, but it does not mean that capsular contracture is common or should be tolerated. You know you may be experiencing this issue when the implant suddenly looks odd, as the breasts are different shapes or sizes than usual. If you have a sudden bump only on one side, or the area around the implant is very hard, you should see a doctor to get breast revision surgery. Not only does this occurrence look bad, but it can also be painful, and you do not deserve to be in pain after spending money on augmentation.

Your plastic surgeon may first suggest simply massaging the breasts to work out the hard areas. This may help distribute the collagen cells evenly so that they do not collect and become hard in the breasts. If this treatment does not work, you will be given a medication that may do the job. However, these interventions do not always work well for every case, which is why you should be open to the possibility of a surgical operation. It may be similar to the original augmentation procedure, and you can usually even use the same doctor, though there are also some surgeons who specialize in breast revision.

If you end up needing surgical help, there are a few options. In some cases, your doctor will remove the collection of collagen surrounding the implant. However, sometimes all that needs to occur is release of the collagen wall, as this allows the tissue to expand a bit more than before so that the area can once again become soft. This may be necessary when there is not much tissue in the area to spare, in which case completely removing the hard area may make the breasts look even more deformed. On the other hand, your doctor may simply remove the implant, as sometimes it becomes infected during the capsular contracture. If this occurs, you will be notified beforehand, and at this time, you may be able to get a larger or smaller size, or switch from saline to silicone, if desired.

This is one of the most common reasons for a breast revision; so do not be surprised if you face this problem at some point. Just know that there are a few ways to fix it, and though surgical procedures are to be avoided when possible, you should be able to find an experienced surgeon who can perform the proper surgery when necessary.