Spot It! These Are the 5 Signs of Capsular Contracture You Should Watch For

When undergoing breast augmentation, complications can sometimes occur—although they’re rare. One of them is capsular contracture, a condition that doesn’t happen often. These are the 5 signs of capsular contracture you should be watching for.

What Is Capsular Contracture?

To understand how capsular contracture—also known as breast implant encapsulation—develops, it’s important to know how the body reacts to a breast implant. When an implant is placed in the body, it’s recognized as a foreign object, and the body naturally forms a protective membrane around it. This fibrous capsule is part of a normal immune response.

In most cases, this reaction causes no discomfort and doesn’t affect the surgical outcome. However, in some cases, the capsule grows excessively, leading to a hardened breast and visible deformation. This is what’s known as capsular contracture.

The 5 Symptoms of Capsular Contracture

There are several symptoms that can indicate the presence of capsular contracture. However, the most common ones are:

• Breast pain: The pain gradually increases over time.
• Breast hardening.
• Deformed breasts.
• Sensitivity in the breast area.
• Uneven breast elevation.

Grades of Capsular Contracture

There are four grades based on the discomfort and negative effects caused by breast implant encapsulation:

• Grade I: Natural capsule, no negative effects.
• Grade II: The implant hardens and becomes palpable.
• Grade III: The implant hardens, is palpable and visible.
• Grade IV: Pain and deformity are added in the fourth grade.

Causes of Breast Implant Encapsulation

The exact causes of this condition are not fully understood, although bacterial contamination of the implant is considered a potential trigger. This is because antibiotics are ineffective against bacteria protected beneath the capsule. A skilled surgeon can reduce the risk of capsular contracture by placing textured implants behind the pectoral muscle and using saline fillers, but it’s not completely preventable. The surgeon’s expertise also plays a key role in avoiding these complications.

Treatment and Solution for Capsular Contracture Symptoms

To address the symptoms of capsular contracture, it is necessary to remove the tissue formed by the body around the implant. This involves replacing the old implants with new ones, while maintaining the breast volume achieved in the original surgery.