Welcome to Bustmob Academy with Gretta Nance, lead educator at Amelia Aesthetics, and Dr. Michelle Roughton, board-certified plastic surgeon at Amelia Aesthetics.
Capsular contracture is a medical term that describes the scar tissue that forms around any foreign object implanted in the body, such as breast implants, chemotherapy ports, and knee replacements.
This scar tissue is also referred to as "the pocket". In some cases, this pocket or scar tissue contracts and gets smaller around the foreign object, resulting in an asymmetrical and tender shape of the implant.
Here's the bottom line: you won't open your eyes after surgery and behold the boobs of your wildest fantasies. But don't freak out - it'll all be okay!
In the early stages after breast augmentation, it is normal for your breasts to appear asymmetrical, high, and firm. This isn't capsular contracture as that pocket takes at least 6 weeks to form and can't really squeeze until then.
Don't take our word for it! Just ask the Bustmob Community, a private and supportive group for women who have had or are planning to have plastic surgery. This community is the perfect place to post pictures, ask questions and get advice from other women on their cosmetic surgery experience. With such a strong support system in place, it's easier to make a stress-free recovery.
The "Frankenboob" look of unevenness and tightness of your breasts can be expected after a breast augmentation. As you heal, the swelling will recede and your muscles will become relaxed, resulting in a more natural-looking “drop and fluff” effect.
Learn more about what to expect for breast augmentation recovery with the free Bustmob Academy app.
If you have capsular contracture, you'll probably experience tenderness and stiffness in the affected breast. There may be a noticeable difference in size and shape between the two breasts, with one feeling harder than the other.
Even though capsular contracture isn't cancer, medically harmful, or a medical emergency, you can still take the time to get checked out if you think you may be experiencing it!
Capsular contracture won't occur until the implant pocket is formed, usually around 6 to 12 weeks after surgery. Before that point, any asymmetry you may notice is completely normal.
Unfortunately, once the pocket is formed it can tighten at any time after that. Therefore, there is a chance of getting capsular contracture for as long as you have your implants.
At Amelia Aesthetics, the possibility of experiencing capsular contracture in the short term is estimated between 1% and 5%. However, when looking at the long term risks (for those planning to keep their implants for 20-30 years), it's difficult to predict what a person's chance of developing capsular contracture could be.
A lot can happen in 30 years–people relocate, plastic surgeons hang up their gloves–so it's hard to know if a patient eventually goes on to have capsular contracture.
Capsular contracture is usually treatable through surgery under full anesthesia. The old implant will be replaced with a new one and the existing scar tissue may also be removed. While it's not the most common scenario, sometimes a patient might need another operation, but this isn’t common so don’t panic.
There are no straightforward answers when it comes to the “why” of capsular contracture, but there are some measures you can take to reduce your risk. These include:
Placing the implant under the pectoral muscle
Doing a crease incision
Using in-surgery sanitation protocols and procedures
Under the muscle, or submuscular implant placement is significantly less likely to cause capsular contracture than over the muscle, or subglandular placement - a whopping 6-10 times lower risk! Also, crease incisions have 2-2.5 times reduced chance of developing capsular contracture compared to around the nipple or underarm incisions.
In-surgery steps such as utilizing tegaderms, keller funnels, and betadine with antibiotics for the implant wash can significantly reduce risks. To learn more about breast implant placement and incisions, check out the Bustmob Academy app!
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