The development of capsular contracture is one of the most common concerns of breast augmentation patients. This complication, which happens at about a rate of 15 percent, occurs when the scar tissue around the implants becomes abnormally thick that it ends up squeezing the devices.
Despite the relatively high rate of occurrence, not all cases of capsular contracture need a revision surgery especially if there are no symptoms such as visible distortion and pain. However, women who are experiencing severe discomfort and have developed ball- or coconut-shaped breasts will likely need another breast augmentation.
In the early stages of capsular contracture, the complication can be treated with non-surgical methods such as taking antibiotics and certain medicines, and performing breast massage. For this reason, any unexpected changes in the breasts particularly hardness of the tissue should be immediately reported to a plastic surgeon.
But as the cliché goes, nothing is far better than to prevent capsular contracture than to treat its symptoms. Fortunately, plastic surgeons nowadays have a deeper understanding of how this complication occurs.
These are the six most ingenious ways to avoid or at least minimize the chance of capsular contracture from occurring:
1. Avoid smoking well in advance of the procedure and during recovery. Several studies have suggested that the nicotine’s ability to constrict the blood vessels not just inhibits proper oxygen delivery but also lead to higher risk of capsular contracture and gangrene.
In fact, smokers face great risks during and after surgery that plastic surgeons today will likely decline to conduct an operation unless they will quit the habit at least three weeks before and after surgery.
2. Use of no-touch technique. Also called as the Keller Funnel technique, it involves the use of a pouch (lubricated with a special solution) where the implants are placed. The narrower end of the device is then squeezed in order to transfer the implant to the breast pocket without actually touching it.
With this technique, doctors can prevent contaminating the implants with staph bacteria present in the patient’s skin, which in turn lowers the risk of capsular contracture.
3. Avoiding incision in the breast’s sub-muscular space. This area is known to harbor bacteria, which is one of the most common causes of capsular contracture.
4. Creating an oversized breast pocket. With this technique, the scar tissue, which normally forms around the implants, will not put pressure or squeeze the breast implants in case it becomes thicker than it should be.
5. Breast massage. While not all plastic surgeons recommend postoperative breast massage, some experts say that it can minimize the risk of capsular contracture by preventing the scar tissue from becoming hard and thick.
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