How To Fix Capsular Contracture At Home

capsular contracture treatment

Sometimes, no matter how skilled a patient'south plastic surgeon is, complications arise during or after surgery. This is the case considering anybody'due south body is different. The limerick of connective tissue varies widely from i patient to another, for instance, and this means that each patient's healing process is entirely unique. This is why some people tend to develop thick scar tissue afterwards whatsoever kind of penetrating skin injury, while others tin sustain deep cuts and develop merely subtle scarring that fades over time. Another good example of this difference is the way some women will develop severe stretch marks during pregnancy no matter what they exercise to foreclose them, whereas other women emerge from pregnancy nigh stretch marker-free. Additionally, everyone'due south immune system responds differently to stimuli, and some patients' allowed systems react poorly to medical implants.

Of grade, complications during plastic surgery are now very rare, both because of advances in surgical techniques and because we've gotten better at predicting which patients are likely to experience surgical complications. Patients who are prone to developing thick scar tissue may be advised to avoid having plastic surgery, or their surgeon will use special surgical techniques that allow incisions to be placed remotely (e.m., inserting breast implants through an incision in the underarm) in society to proceed scarring largely out of sight. Patients who accept compromised immune systems or autoimmune diseases are oft advised to forego surgery and choose less invasive forms of cosmetic enhancement. Likewise, there are a number of procedures that can be used after surgery, such as the Aspen Rehabilitation Technique, in order to treat complications and improve the patient's appearance. One of the nigh common areas where Aspen is used is in the handling of capsular contracture after breast augmentation surgery.

What is capsular contracture?

The germination of a "capsule" of scar tissue effectually any kind of implant (medical or cosmetic) is a normal function of the healing process. The trunk automatically reacts to any foreign object information technology detects within information technology and attempts to isolate said object past creating a barrier of scar tissue around it. In the case of breast implants, this is usually a skilful thing – the capsule helps to proceed the breast implants in identify, preventing slippage. In some patients, however, this capsule of scar tissue becomes unusually difficult and starts to contract around the implant. This tin lead to both aesthetic bug and, in extreme cases, pain in the breasts. Inquiry shows that about i in half dozen breast augmentation patients experience some degree of capsular contracture, though non all cases present with obvious symptoms. The severity of capsular contracture is rated using a grading system:

Grade one: Grade ane capsular contracture is asymptomatic (producing or showing no symptoms). The formation of scar tissue around the implant does not interfere with the size, shape or texture of the breasts. The breasts look natural and remain soft to the affect.
Grade two: Grade two capsular contracture usually presents itself with only minor cosmetic symptoms. The breasts will usually appear normal in shape but feel somewhat firm to the touch.
Grade 3: Course three capsular contracture presents itself with obvious cosmetic symptoms. The breasts will exist firm to the touch and announced abnormal, e.g., they will be overly round, difficult-looking and the nipples may exist misshapen. Notwithstanding, this course of capsular contraction often doesn't cause much (if whatever) pain.
Grade 4: Similar grade three capsular contracture, form 4 capsular contracture causes the breasts to become difficult and misshapen. Patients with class 4 capsular contracture likewise experience breast soreness; their breasts will often be tender and painful to the touch.

Generally, capsular contracture occurs during the healing process. About 75% of all capsular contractures volition occur within 2 years of the patient'due south implants being placed. Sometimes capsular contractures occur many years afterwards breast augmentation surgery, but this is the exception rather than the rule. If this does occur, the patient's breast implants should exist checked for ruptures. Ruptured implants are the most mutual cause of belatedly-onset capsular wrinkle.

What causes capsular contracture?

Clinicians have a number of theories on what causes capsular contracture, and it's likely that the exact causes of this condition vary from patient to patient. As a breast augmentation patient, it's of import to sympathize that this status is not caused by breast implants being in whatever fashion toxic or dangerous. Saline implants contain only saline solution, which can be safely reabsorbed by the body with no sick effects, and silicone gel implants are made of medically inert silicone. Indeed, capsular contracture tin happen after any kind of medical implant is inserted into the body; the condition is not unique to breast augmentation surgery. Capsular contracture is just particularly troubling when it occurs afterwards breast augmentation because it ofttimes alters the appearance of the breasts, thereby jeopardizing the aesthetic improvements that the patient had surgery to create. Capsular contracture is not usually dangerous to the patient's health unless her implants take ruptured (in the instance of gel implants, rupture can sometimes atomic number 82 to infection).

Researchers believe genetics play a function in who develops capsular contraction and who does non. If y'all have a family history of autoimmune disease or you have relatives who oftentimes develop thick scar tissue after injury (or who have had difficulties with medical implants), and so you may have a slightly heightened take a chance of developing this condition. Yet, it's impossible to accurately predict who will develop a "random" instance of capsular contracture (i.e., 1 that is not caused by any identifiable external factors) and who will not. Considering capsular contracture is highly treatable, you shouldn't let a fright of developing this condition agree you back from getting breast augmentation surgery.

Sometimes, capsular contracture is caused by something other than the patient's ain body reacting poorly to the presence of breast implants. In addition to implant ruptures, it is now believed that something called "biofilm" frequently leads to the development of this condition. Biofilm is a sparse layer of bacteria that develops around implants subsequently a type of bacteria (oftentimes staph bacteria) is introduced to the chest crenel during surgery. This bacterium causes a kind of chronic, low-course infection that may not produce noticeable symptoms (such equally fever or severe fatigue). All the same, as the trunk combats this infection, it produces more and more than fibrous scar tissue, somewhen leading to capsular contracture. The biofilm theory of capsular contracture was given credence by a contempo report conducted on pigs who were implanted with medical-grade silicone implants. This study showed that there was a meaning increase in the likelihood of capsular contracture in those pigs who had staph bacteria on their skin at the time of implant placement. It'southward important to note that staph contamination during breast augmentation surgery does not necessarily result from an unhygienic working environment. Some people are natural carriers of staph bacteria; information technology'southward always present on their skin and commonly causes no symptoms. Only when these individuals have their pare penetrated does this bacterium have a adventure to cause any serious problems. While ensuring a make clean working environment can certainly help to lower the chance of staph contamination, it's non always possible to eliminate 100% of the bacteria that are present.

Other rare complications of breast augmentation surgery, such as hematomas and seromas (blood clots that sometimes class afterward invasive surgery), are also believed to increase the risk of capsular contracture. Some researchers believe these blood clots increase the likelihood of capsular contracture past providing a rich supply of nutrients (in the form of claret) for bacteria, thereby encouraging the growth of biofilm. How can capsular contracture exist prevented?

While information technology's impossible to foreclose capsular contracture from occurring in every patient, in that location are several ways to lower a patient's risk of developing this status. To that terminate, plastic surgeons now employ a number of different preventative strategies, as outlined beneath:

Thorough patient screening: Patients are screened for health conditions that might increase their run a risk of complications similar hematomas. Patients are also required to give up smoking, as smoking makes hematoma germination more likely and generally impairs the healing process.
Using the correct size of implant for the patient: Placing a large implant in a patient with bereft natural breast tissue to cover said implant increases the risk of capsular contracture. If a patient with small breasts wants to increment her cup size significantly, it'due south better to practice and then in stages, e.g., start with a mid-sized implant and give the peel time to stretch before placing a larger 1.
Minimal implant handling: The more an implant is handled prior to beingness inserted into the patient's breast, the more likely bacterial contamination becomes. As such, surgeons strictly limit how much they touch any implant before placing information technology in the patient's torso. Lath-certified plastic surgeons too work in a sterile hospital facility.
The use of textured gel implants: Using gel implants with a textured surface, rather than a smooth surface, has been shown to reduce the likelihood of capsular wrinkle. It is thought that the textured surface of the implant makes information technology more than difficult for thick scar tissue to develop around the implant. Withal, textured implants are not right for every patient, as in some cases their edges may be more detectable. They are usually most suitable for use when the implants are beingness placed below the breast muscles.
The use of "under the musculus" placement: Placing implants nether the chest muscles can significantly lower the run a risk of capsular contracture. Partial under the musculus implant placement results in an 8-12% lifetime risk of capsular contracture, as opposed to a 12-eighteen% lifetime risk of capsular contracture with over the musculus implant placement. Furthermore, implants that are placed completely under the muscle are associated with just a 4-viii% lifetime risk of capsular contracture.
Massage: Gently massaging the breasts while they heal from breast augmentation surgery may help to prevent capsular contracture by encouraging the chest tissue to remain pliable. Yet, this method has not been proven effective by any major studies. You should never disturb the tissue of your breasts while they are healing from surgery without first getting permission from your surgeon. Otherwise, you may impairment the tissue and make capsular contracture more probable.

How does Aspen treat and reverse capsular contracture?

In the by, the treatment options available for breast augmentation patients with capsular contracture left much to exist desired. Revision surgery was oftentimes required—a lengthy, costly and uncomfortable solution. During this process, the patient's implants were removed, she was treated with antibiotics and eventually (once the infection had subsided), she could choose to take breast implants inserted again. Withal, because this surgical arroyo makes the body vulnerable to a 2d bacterial invasion, many of these patients experienced repeated incidences of capsular contracture.

Aspen multi-energy therapy is dissimilar. Information technology's completely noninvasive, then it doesn't cause the patient pain or inconvenience, nor does information technology increase her risk of developing capsular contracture again in the future. During Aspen therapy, a special device (the Aspen harmonizer) is practical to the patient's chest tissue, without any incisions being made. The Aspen harmonizer delivers precisely controlled ultrasound waves to the patient'south tissue, encouraging the growth of healthy collagen. This increases elasticity inside the breast capsule around the implant, making the breasts feel soft and pliable again. Furthermore, the ultrasound waves used during Aspen therapy have been shown to increase the effectiveness of antibiotics in combating biofilm. Aspen therapy is commonly administered over two to three weeks in combination with antibody therapy to target the root crusade of capsular contracture. The Aspen method has been shown to be effective for grade two and grade three cases of capsular contracture. Grade four cases may crave more than aggressive surgical intervention.

If you're a proficient candidate for Aspen therapy, this pain-free process can treat and reverse capsular contracture. Contact a board-certified plastic surgeon to learn more than about this procedure.

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and exercise not necessarily reflect the opinions of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.