1 Year Post Breast Implants: Worried I Have Capsular Contracture

asked 1 year ago by Kayla in Kentucky in Paris, KY
Latest answer by Isolde Hertess, MD
Question viewed 1,334 times
Tags: saline implants, under muscle, 1 year post-op, capsular contracture, high, high profile, massage, tender, tightness, worried

A year ago next tuesday 5/10/2010,I had breast implant surgery, 36DD, saline implants, high profile, under the muscle(My left breast was always a half cup size smaller than my right) My fourth visit after surgery,I mentioned to my PS my left breast implant felt lower than my right, he imformed me to keep massaging and everything should fall into place.

Last month or so I noticed my left breast was tender under neath, feels slightly tight and looks as if its sitting higher than my right. Worried!!

10 answers to 1 Year Post Breast Implants: Worried I Have Capsular Contracture

Possible capsular contracture 1 year post-op?

At one year post-op, your description is accurate for capsular contracture. Since bleeding and bacteria are the two most common causes of (late) capsular contracture, do you remember any moderate trauma to your left breast at about the time of the tightness, tenderness, and switch from sitting lower to higher than the opposite breast? If so, you might have had some bleeding, which now has developed into the tight, firm, sore capsular contracture. The other cause would be bacteria--can you... more

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS
Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon

www.mpsmn.com

Capsule contracture

Your photos suggest that you have a capsule contractue on the left side causing the implant to sit high . There are lots of reasons for capsule contracture and it may have been coming on for some time. It looks unlikely that massage alone will resolve the contracture that you have, You will most likely reqiure revision surgery. When you see your surgeon please make sure that you discuss yuor options in particular the size of your implants the possible recurrence rate of... more

Isolde Hertess, MD
Gold Coast Plastic Surgeon

www.plasticsurgerycentregoldcoast.com.au

Capsular contracture.

Given the history you've provided and the photos, I would agree that you probably have a capsular contracture of the left breast. That being said, your implants are high in both breasts as seen on the profile picture. The silhouette of the right breast shows a tight lower pole of that breast as well. I recommend a follow up examination with your plastic surgeon to evaluate your options. This may include a revision of both breasts to improve the implant placement as well as correct any... more

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

High Riding Implant, Capsular Contracture?

The patient illustrated in this picture is presenting high riding implant on the left side. There are multiple reasons for that; these implants can be too big for her to start with and also it may be a high riding implant or it may be a capsular contracture or both. Whatever the problem may be it can not be fixed by just massaging the implants, this patient will require some kind of revision surgery. During the revision, it is highly recommended that these implants be changed for a smaller size. more

S. Ozan Sozer, MD
El Paso Plastic Surgeon

Another vote for revision of augmentation with smaller implants

Its hard to tell without a hands-on exam exactly what factor(s) are causing the appearance here, but clearly a revisional procedure will likely need to be considered.... and i would strongly recommend that this time smaller (and perhaps lower profile) implants be part of the "fix".

Bruce K. Barach, MD
Schenectady Plastic Surgeon

drbarach.com

Breast implant capsular contracture

It is possible that you have a capsular contracture, but merely having the implant sitting at a different height would not indicate that. Your surgeon would have to examine the implant to see if the capsule has in fact hardened, causing the malposition.

Malik Kutty, MD
Sugar Land Plastic Surgeon

Capsular contracture

You may very well have a capsular contracture of your breasts, but a formal exam would be essential to evaluate this correctly.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Your implants are too big for your breast

Your implants are too big and youmay have capsular contracture. The other possibility Is that your muscle was not released and did not let the implant to expand the lower pole of the breast. You need examination and revision with smaller implants.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Early capsular contracture after breast augmentation

Unfortunately capsular contracture is a possibility at this stage, particularly if you notice any tightness accompanied by change in the position of the implant (implant riding high) or change in the surface of the breast (for example any rippling effect). I would suggest visiting your surgeon who can easily allay your anxiety or advise appropriately.

Anindya Lahiri, MBBS
Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

Capsular contracture after breast augmentation

It is very typical to see capsular contracture begin at about one to two years after breast augmentation if it is going to happen, and begin with slight tenderness or drawing and firming up of the breast. As the capsule tightens the implant begins to appear rounder, and will tend to ride up higher in the breast. If this is a 'new' sensation for you then the capsule contracture may be the cause. Your implants are quite large, and it just could be that the higher implant was there all... more