Capsular contracture

Around every implant the body forms a thin cap­su­le of con­nec­ti­ve tis­sue. This is a nor­mal reac­tion. If this cap­su­le con­tracts and har­dens, howe­ver, it is cal­led cap­su­lar contracture.

Appli­ca­ti­on

Seve­ri­ty is clas­si­fied in four gra­des: from a har­dening that can only be felt, through to a visi­bly defor­med, pain­ful breast. Hig­her gra­des requi­re a fur­ther pro­ce­du­re in which the cap­su­le is remo­ved and the implant exchanged.

Good to know

It is the most com­mon late com­pli­ca­ti­on after breast aug­men­ta­ti­on. It can occur years after the pro­ce­du­re, which is why regu­lar check-ups make sen­se. Modern implants and clean sur­gi­cal tech­ni­que redu­ce the risk.

Matching tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Breast aug­men­ta­ti­on with implants