What is a capsular contracture?
In extremely rare cases, no matter how skilled the surgeon is, post-surgical complications can arise. Capsular contracture is a breast implant surgery complication. Fortunately, capsular contracture can be treated with a reconstruction surgery (capsulectomy), which keeps the visual appearance of the breast at its best.
Firstly, why does a capsule form around an inserted implant? When the implant is inserted, a patient’s immune system does not accept it as a natural body part, and instead, activates the body to form a fibrous capsule around the implant. The capsule naturally prevents the implant from moving inside the breast. However, sometimes the fibrous capsule can become constricted. This means that the capsule which surrounds the implant becomes so contracted and stiff that the volume inside the capsule becomes smaller than the volume of the implant, which results in tension, hardening, distortion, and pain in the breast.