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What Can I Do to Prevent Encapsulation from Happening?

asked 9 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Michael Law, MD
Question viewed 286 times
Tags: breasts, encapsulated, frequency, implant, long-term, prevention, statistics

How often do breasts get encapsulated after breast implants? If this were to happen, about how many days or weeks would it be most likely to occur?

7 answers to What Can I Do to Prevent Encapsulation from Happening?

Capsules...

First, just a bit of terminology. Everyone gets a capsule or 'encapsulation'. The term refers to the normal scar tissue that forms around an implant. Since any scar tissue has the ability to contract (shrink) there is the potential for the capsule to close in on the implant, squeezing it. This capsule 'contracture' can be uncomfortable or possibly affect your shape. In really bad cases it can even become painful. The link below is to a part... more

Scott E. Newman, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.psurgery.com

Capsular Contracture

Any time a foreign object is implanted in the body, whether it is a pacemaker or a breast implant or an orthopedic device or anything else, the body responds by forming a thin, wispy, fibrous membrane around it. In most cases this membrane or 'capsule' stays thin and wispy, but in some cases over time the capsule may tighten around the implant and thicken, making the implant feel firm or even hard. In advanced stages the contracted capsule can even distort the shape and position of a... more

Michael Law, MD
Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon

michaellawmd.com

All Implants Encapsulate

All breast inplants encapsulate. This is a process in which your body recognizes that the implant is not a normal part of your body and forms a capsule around it. The problem arises when this capsule contracts forming a capsular contracture of which there are 4 grades. Grades 1/2 are not particularly problematic, but grades 3 and 4 contractures cause odd shapes and, often, pain. The best way to avoid a grade 3 or 4 contracture is to select an implant which is not... more

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Encapsulation

This is a good question; unfortunately there is a lot of disagreement about the right answer. To the best of my knowledge, the rate of encapsulation increases based on the duration of time that the implants are in place. Exact numbers are not known but an estimation might be about 1% of patients per year may develop encapsulation–so, after 20 years you may have about 20% chance of developing encapsulation. I also think that choice of surgeon, sub muscular placement of implants,... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Breast "Encapsulation"

The incidence of capsular contracture increases over time, just like the incidence of implant rupture. Older implants have a higher chance of contracture than newer ones. The best data available shows a 15% chance of capsular contracture at seven years after primary augmentation, similar with both gel and saline. This means 85% of women do not get contracture by seven years. More common for patients having reconstruction than augmentation, more common for... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

Capsule contracture

Hello, The good and bad news, depends on how you look at it, is that you cannot really do anything to cause or prevent it. Much of the potential source of capsule contracture happens during surgery and perhaps genetics/other body factors that you cannot control. Massage may help but there is some disagreement about this. I would not worry about it. The chance of not getting a capsule contracture is in your favor. All the best, Dr Repta

Remus Repta, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Capsular Contracture After Breast Augmentation

The rates of capsular contracture, or scar tissue around breast implants varies from surgeon to surgeon, but really should be about 2-4% across the board. This can happen right after the surgery to years down the line. Anytime you place something foreign in the body, whether it is a knee joint, a pacemaker, or breast implant, etc., your body produces a thin layer of scar tissue in reaction to the device. Most of the time you never know it is there. However, about 2%... more

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

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