Capsular Contracture (breast hardness): may occur within four to six weeks after your initial surgery. A capsule forms around any foreign body placed within the human body, like the breast implant. This capsule can harden in response to trauma or an infection and can be mild to very severe. Capsular contracture rates can be higher when implants are placed above the muscle rather than below the muscle. If this occurs, you may require your breast implants to be placed under the pectoral muscle.
Capsulotomy/Capsulectomy: a procedure where the hardened capsule is opened and released or sometimes partially or completely removed. This creates a softer breast. Sometimes, removing the capsule also may reduce the incidence of recurrent scar tissue, but this is not always the case. Just because a capsule is removed, does not mean that it will not reoccur. When treating this condition, your plastic surgeon will evaluate your unique physical anatomy, your breast and chest wall, as well as the placement of your implants by your previous surgeon. Together you can decide on the best solution.
Removing or replacing breast implants: will depend upon your previous surgery. If the implants are in good shape and are not ruptured, often, they may be left in place and a new implant may not be required. However, some studies have found that capsular contracture may be associated with micro-infections; therefore, removing the implants, and replacing them with new ones after cleaning and irrigating the pocket with antibiotic solution, may help to reduce recurrent infection and capsular contracture. It is important to note that breast implants will not last forever. On average, implants will last 20 + years after the initial surgery, though implants can break (rupture) at any point after the initial surgery, necessitating replacement.
Double bubble breast deformities: can occur when an improper surgery was performed to correct breast sagging or constricted breast deformity. In these cases, two problems occur at the same time. The first problem is that there is a loss of volume in the breast, requiring a breast implant, usually a submuscular placement. Second is excess skin that needs to be removed through a breast lift. A combination of augmentation and breast lifting can be used to remove extra skin and give you normal-appearing breasts.
Body size and proper implant size: can occur when surgery is performed to correct breast sagging or a constricted (tuberous) breast deformity. In these cases, it is sometimes necessary to lower a patient’s existing fold under the breast (inframammary fold) to accommodate a breast implant, or to correct a congenitally high fold. These folds are released during surgery, but if a remnant of the natural fold persists after surgery, it may be visible, resulting in this deformity. Corrections are highly individualized, and may employ combinations of further surgical release, fat grafting, implant exchange or repositioning, mesh placement, or breast lift surgeries.
