Breast Implants: Q&A
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Left Breast As Hard As a Rock 10.5 Years After Breast Implants?
I had breast implants 10 1/2 years ago. About 7 months ago my left breast started getting hard in the corner. It has now progressed to the entire breast. I went to my ob-gyn and had an exam. She said she had felt 10,000's of breast and had never felt one as hard as mine. She sent me for a DM and US and the doctor found pockets of fluid on the outside of my implant. She said the implant was intact but is sending me for a MRI. What could be causing this? Neither doctor has ever seen this before.
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6 Doctor Answers |
Asked by
JaKris24
in Rockwood, TN
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Capsular contracture
It sounds like you may have capsular contracture. I recommend a visit to a Board Certified plastic surgeon who can examine you and advise you on how to proceed.
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Capsular contracture treatment and prevention
I would agree. An MRI is not going to change the fact that the treatment for capsular contraction (baker grade 4) is surgery. A removal and replacement of the implants with new implants placed in the subpectoral pocket (under the muscle) if they are not there already and also maybe considering the use of a biologic dermal matrix (or "biologic") such as alloderm or strattice would also be a consideration for prevention of recurrent capsular contraction.
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You need surgery, not an MRI.
An MRI will provide information, but will it change what needs to be done here?
You have Baker 4 capsuolar contracture, and late, unilateral capsular contracture is usually related to one of two things--a mild to moderate trauma to the breast causing bleeding and progressive capsular contracture, or bacterial contamination (say from dental work) after a minor trauma to the breast sufficient to allow bacteremia to enter the breast pocket.
In either case, unless you plan to keep one...
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Capsular Contracutre
Yes, I agree, you need to see a board certified plastic surgeon. It sounds like you are describing capsular contracture which is very rare but can happen after breast augmentation. You will likely need a surgery to remove the scar tissue and possibly replace the implants. However, without seeing you in person it is impossible to give you a diagnosis. The MRI which your doctor ordered will give some useful information.
Good Luck.
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Severe hardening or encapsulation of breast implant
You should obtain a consultation from a board certified plastic surgeon regarding the encapsulation of your implants.
With hardening of this magnitude, surgery will be necessary to help the problem. This may involve removal of the implants, the scar tissue around the implants, and possibly adjustment of the internal capsules.
An MRI would typically show if the implant has ruptured, but there are other conditions that should be considered as well, and your surgeon will be...
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Hard Breast
Sorry to hear about your breast hardening. Capsular contracture is the most common cause of breast hardening after implants. Since you said you had fluid around your implant, this could be due to trauma, irritation of the capsule from excessive exercise or there is a rare possibility that this could be Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. It sounds like your doctor is doing the proper workup and the MRI is likely to give you the answer. Hope it goes well.
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