What is capsular contracture?

What does capsular contracture mean? I just want to make sure what it because I may have it. Thanks

Sort: Date | Helpful

6 answers to “What is capsular contracture?”

A: Breast Hardness

By Christopher L. Hess, MD - Fairfax Plastic Surgeon

When an implant is places into the body, whether it's a breast implant or a cardiac defibrillator, the body tries to wall it off from everything else by putting a capsule around it. It's a foreign body that doesn't belong. Capsular contracture occurs when this capsule becomes hard and essentially... more

A: Capsular contracture causes breast implants to feel hard.

By George J. Beraka, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Hi! Every one forms an internal lining around the breast implants, and this lining is called the capsule. This is normal. It is how the body isolates the implant. In some women, and for reasons that are only partially understood, this internal lining or capsule begins to tighten or... more

A: Capsular contracture

By Steven Wallach, MD - Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Capsular contracture refers to the process of the body forming a tight wall around a breast implant. No one knows why this happens. One theory is that it is due to infection.

A: It is an abnormally firm scar around the implant

By Richard P. Rand, MD - Seattle Plastic Surgeon

The human body recognizes all foreign objects inserted into it and walls them off by building a scar around them. This is called a "capsule" and is a normal reaction. All breast implant patients have "capsules." The abnormal form of this is an exaggerated version... more

A: Breast implant capsular contracture

By Robin T.W. Yuan, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Any implant, breast implants included, stimulates the body to form a capsule around it that is comprised of collagen fibers and some cells. It is thought that some cells, called myofibroblasts, act like muscle cells and can contract or shorten. When this happens, the capsule surround the implant shrinks.... more

A: A capsule is a scar that forms around the implant

By Michael C. Edwards, MD - Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

When ever an implant is placed in the body (breast implant, pacemaker, hip joint, etc.) the bodies natural response is to wall it off with a scar referred to as a capsule. Capsules unfortunately have the ability to contract or get tighter but rarely stretch or expand. It should not be considered... more