Breast Implants Hardening After Breastfeeding

You have capsular contracture . This is harding of the tissue around the implant. You will need to have the scar tissue the implants. You can do this electively and there is no damage to your breast by delaying the surgery .

Every foreign body placed into the body (artificial joints, bullets, artificial vessels, pumps, implants) are walled off by the body with a thin and smooth layer of scar tissue called a CAPSULE. Uncommonly, the scar tissue begins thickening and exerting pressure on the implant, in effect, squeezing them to the point that implants become very round, hard and in some cases painful. This process is called CAPSULAR CONTRACTURE.

There is NO scientific proof that any medical therapy can stop this process but high doses of Vitamin E,  Papaverine and other supplements were tried with mixed success. Years ago following a short series of cases from Hawaii, we tried using anti-asthma medication for this NON-FDA approved purpose (IE off label use). The results have been disappointing in most patient and with the small but definite risk of liver damage seen with these agents, most of us stopped using them.

The ONLY proven therapy is surgery in which part or all of the scar pocket is removed (CAPSULECTOMY) with the implant(s) and implant(s) are exchanged. This may cure the scar in most women but in some the scarring recurs.