Fixing capsular contracture deformities requires customization of breast deformities observed following capsular contracture. The breasts will typically become firm in appearance and feel. Typically, this hardening will appear as bulges in the breast mound that pull up the breast mounds while the nipple-areola is tethered low on the breast. Both of these effects make the breasts look unappealing in appearance.
What is capsular contracture?
Capsular contracture involves the thickening of the breast capsule. The breast capsule is a thin scar that naturally forms around your breast implant. The creation of a capsule is expected and allows for ensuring that your breast implant is fixed in position. Although the formation of a capsule is protective and desired, if it thickens, it can result in the deformity of the breast mound.
The capsule forms when silicone molecules migrate from the inside of the implant to the outside of the implant through the solid silicone shell. This process typically occurs over many years if not decades following initial implant augmentation. As such this migration of silicone molecules is occurring through an intact shell that has not been violated.
Instead, it involves the microscopic migration of silicone molecules that cannot be blocked. This microscopic migration has been termed silicone molecule bleeding and is well established.
How Does Capsular contracture effect breast shape
As the naturally occurring breast capsule thickens, it will fix the breast implant in place over the upper and middle chest. It will also lead to tether the upper and middle chest skin, but it will not hinder the lower middle breast skin from drooping. As a result, patients will notice the development of a bulge over the upper middle chest where the breast implants are fixed whereas the lower breast pole which includes the nipple and areola begins to droop.
Overview of capsular contracture breast deformities fixing capsular contracture breast deformities must be customized to treat each patient’s unique undesirable breast changes. Fixing capsular contracture breast deformities obviously must include complete removal of the breast capsule that has thickened and is deforming the breast tissues.
In addition, the implant must be replaced as it likely has free silicone molecules surrounding it. Finally, the drooping lower breast mound and nipple and areola complex require lifting up to an optimized breast capsule. In summary, fixing capsular contracture breast deformities will require a combination of capsule removal, implant replacement, as well as a breast lift.
Please see this 71-year-old female patient shows how to properly fix capsular contracture deformities.