If Silicone is "Inert", Why Does the Body Create a Capsule?

The term inert simply means that the body doesn't interact with the slicone implants. Any foreign object, be it a titanium plate, ceramic joint, or breast implant is walled off by the body. The body simply forms a scar around it, but it doesn't interact with it.  I hope this clarifies.

Your body reacts to all foreign object differently. If it is comes from living tissue, your body will mount an attack against it. If it is inert, it will allow you to live with it but since it is foreign, your body reacts by "walling it off" or making a capsule. This goes for metal, silicone, or anything that is not rejected. The properties of silicone have been well studied and the implant companies continue to develop better silicone. The current silicone shell causes your body to make a soft capsule around it thanks to its cross-linking.

Hello Jones,

The formation of a capsule after breast augmenatation is the equivalent to how your skin heals after it has been cut. Your body produces collagen and forms new blood vessels to close the wound.  The only difference is that a fresh layer of skin cells covers the surface of the scar (epidermis) in the case of a skin injury.

Inert means that there is no reaction over and above the normal healing process.  An example of bioreactive (non-inert) events would include exposure of your tissues to a caustic chemical, bacteria, or non-self tissue like a donor organ.

The formation of a scar capsule around a breast implant is idenical to the healing process that would occur with the placement of a metal or glass object into the body.

I hope this explanation has been helpful for you.