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Is This Capsular Contracture?

asked 11 months ago by Violet 34 in UK
Latest answer by Vivek Bansal, MD
Question viewed 502 times
Tags: asymmetry, 2 months post-op, capsular contracture, fluid, hard

I've had a surgery over 7 weeks ago,2nd one,got 400HP in left breast,and 375HP in right one,due to small assymetry.My left breast healed well.Right was difficult,bleeded more,and there was a swelling on the right side of the breast(bottom part below armpit)that was soft at the beginning.When I squeezed it with my hand it felt like some fluid.It hardened with time,after few weeks it's better.I found a swelled vein under right one. 2 weeks post op right breast appeared smaller,and it's still so.

8 answers to Is This Capsular Contracture?

+2

7 weeks is too early to diagnose a capsular contracture.

At 7 weeks swelling the breast after augmentation might make the breasts appear to be suffering from capsular contracture. Whereas the capsule that forms around all implants is visible after a few days, capsular contracture usually does not emerge for several months at the earliest.
Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+2

Is this capsular contracture?

Based on your photo, it appears that the right breast is in fine position and that the left breast is too low. they both appear slightly "shrink wrapped". this could be a subtle early contracture. your history of bleeding and swelling make me suspicious. there are some non-invasive strategies to employ.talk to your surgeon early. but I fear the left breast will be the problem as generally a low breast only gets lower. if it does bottom out another surgery to re-create the... more
Rafael C. Cabrera, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon
+2

Early capsular contracture after breast augmentation

Seven weeks is fairly early to detect capsular contracture since the implants are usually slightly firm at this point anyway-just from the surgery. Based on these photos alone it's difficult to say, capsular contracture is something that is felt more than detected on visual exam. I recommend having your plastic surgeon exam you to evaluate your implants. You can massage your implants or try taking oral vitamin E to help soften the implants if you do in fact have capsular... more
William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Capsular contracture after seven weeks

Capsular contracture causes the breast implant to become firm and round up within the breast. An early capsule can be felt with drawing and firmness, and a later capsule becoming visible with distortion of the breast. What we note in your photo is that one of the implants is low with a pocket below the natural fold. The high profile implant is now projecting below the nipple causing the nipple to appear higher on the one breast. We don't think massage will get you anywhere. Wait at least... more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

+2

Capsular contracture

Dear Violet, Thank you for the pictures. There are several possiblities that may be considered at this time. From your pictures it appears that the fold below your breasts (inframammary fold) are not at the same location. After 7 weeks the implants should have started to, or should already descended into the appropriate anatomical location. The issues that you had with your R breast may have impeded the descent expected, and/or possibly have caused the formation... more
Ernesto Hayn, MD

West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon
+2

Is this capsular contracture?

You mentioned this was a 2nd surgery. Redo's can be more difficult than primaries. What is the sequence of the photos that you have posted? At 7 weeks post op, it is too early to identify a capsular contracture. Your right breast doesn't look bad. Your left breast is bottomming out, and that may be the reason for your current asymmetry. You should be massaging the breasts daily. The right side may still drop so that is looks more like... more
Beverly Friedlander, MD

Short Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

How to tell a capsular contracture

A capsular contracture can range from something fairly minor that can only be felt to being as serious as something that is visibly distorting the breast and painful. The body takes time to develop a capsule around an implant and if a contracture develops that also takes time, usually at least three months. At seven weeks, its too early to tell, swelling may still be a factor. After the swelling has resolved and and adequate time for healing given, a physical exam is... more
Adam Hamawy, MD

Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Augmentation

This will require an examination and evaluation to determine if there is a contracture or some possible bleeding and tissue density while healing is occurring. Your Board Certified Plastic Surgeon will be of assistance in determining the cause of the tissue difference. You still are healing and will need at least 6 months to make a full assessment of the outcome.
Vivek Bansal, MD

Danville Plastic Surgeon

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