Scottsdale – When we discuss breast augmentation with our plastic surgery patients, we discuss Capsular Contracture. What is capsular contracture?

A capsular contracture occurs when the lining of scar tissue which naturally forms around breast implants begins to tighten and becomes quite firm.

When saline or silicone breast implants are placed in the body, your body forms a lining around it. This phenomenon is normal and occurs with every type of implant which is placed in the human body. The lining or capsule is formed by your own living tissue.  Plastic surgeons refer to this lining as the “capsule”, “tissue capsule”, or “scar capsule”.

Capsule contracture is the most common complication of breast augmentation surgery. It can can happen at any time, but seems to be more common in the first several months after cosmetic surgery of the breasts.

At the time of the initial breast surgery, a pocket is made for the breast implant. During the healing process, a capsule forms. The body is genetically programmed to shrink scar tissue. Under normal conditions, the pocket remains open and soft, allowing the breasts to look and feel natural.

In some people, the capsule will tighten, and squeeze the breast implant. When the capsule tightens or contracts, the breast implants begin to feel hard. With enough pressure, the breasts appear distorted in appearance.

In the late stages of capsular contracture, the breasts feel very firm, and may take on a “ball-like” appearance. It is not the implant that has hardened. It is the shrinking of the capsule which compresses the breast implant that leads to the breast feeling firm and hard.