Key Takeaways
- When a breast implant is placed, the body naturally forms a protective tissue capsule around it, which occurs in every patient regardless of implant type.
- In some patients, this capsule contracts and tightens around the implant, causing the breast to feel firm, appear distorted, and in severe cases cause discomfort.
- There are four Baker grades of capsular contracture, ranging from normal appearance and feel to severe firmness, visible distortion, and pain.
- Some surgeons use a no-touch implant technique with antibiotic solution to minimize the risk of the low-grade infection thought to contribute to the condition.
- Post-operative breast massages following surgeon instructions help implants settle and reduce the formation of scar tissue that leads to contracture.
Breast augmentation is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures, with several hundred thousand being performed every year. One of the risks of breast augmentation surgery is capsular contracture, but what does that mean? How can it be prevented? Well go into more detail about what exactly the term means for your breast augmentation surgery in Northern Virginia.
What Is Capsular Contracture?
When you have a breast implant inserted into the breast, the body will create a protective tissue lining around it. This happens to every patient, no matter what kind of implant you get. However, in some patients, the protective tissue lining (known as the tissue capsule) will shrink around the implant, causing the breast to feel very firm. This contraction of the capsule is capsular contracture, and can give the breasts an unattractive, hardened look.
The Stages of Capsular Contracture
There are four stages of capsular contracture, named the Baker grades after the surgeon who divided the stages:
1. Grade one means the breasts looks and feels normal. Most patients fall here.
2. Grade two means the patient has a normal looking breast, but it feels slightly firm due to the capsule contracting.
3. In grade three, the breast feels firm and looks slightly distorted by the contraction.
4. In grade four, the breast feels firm, looks distorted, and may cause some discomfort.
How To Prevent It
The cause of capsular contracture isnt known, so its difficult to narrow down one method of preventing it from happening. Some scientists believe capsular contracture is a low-grade infection, so selecting a surgeon who uses only the most sterile surgical methods may help. Some surgeons use the no-touch method, where the implants are submerged in antibiotic solution until they are implanted, and the surgeon only touches them with clean gloves coated in antibiotic solution.
After surgery, you can reduce your chances of developing capsular contracture by following the surgeons post-operative directions about self-massage. Gently massaging the breasts will help the implants settle in their pocket and will lessen the formation of scar tissue.
If you have any questions about breast augmentation in Northern Virginia, please call our office at (703) 574-2588.Frequently Asked Questions
What is capsular contracture after breast augmentation?
Capsular contracture occurs when the natural tissue capsule the body forms around a breast implant tightens and squeezes the implant. This can cause the breast to feel unusually firm, appear distorted, and in more severe cases cause pain or discomfort. It is one of the most common complications of breast augmentation surgery.
What are the four Baker grades of capsular contracture?
Grade one means the breast looks and feels completely normal. Grade two means it feels slightly firm but looks normal. Grade three means the breast feels firm and looks somewhat distorted. Grade four is the most severe, with a firm, visibly distorted breast that may also cause pain or discomfort.
What causes capsular contracture?
The exact cause is not fully understood, but some researchers believe it may be related to a low-grade bacterial infection around the implant. Choosing a surgeon who uses sterile techniques and the no-touch method, where implants are handled only with antibiotic-coated gloves, may reduce the risk.
How can capsular contracture be prevented?
Following your surgeon's post-operative instructions for breast massage is one of the most important preventive steps. Regular, gentle massage helps implants settle properly and can break up early scar tissue formation. Choosing a highly experienced, board-certified surgeon and following all recovery guidelines also significantly reduces the risk.
How is severe capsular contracture treated?
In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the contracted capsule and replace the implant. This corrective surgery can restore the breast's appearance and comfort. Your surgeon will discuss the appropriate course of action if this complication develops.