If you had capsular contracture in the past, will it return again with breast implants?

Question

I had a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction tissue expanders. One side my stitches split open before leaving the hospital and was sent home with an open wound that never healed. I did not have radiation! Back to surgery to close the wound and and replace TE, 3 months later the other TE ruptured. I developed capsular contracture on the open wound side. If I try this again now 2 years later am I wasting my time, will it result in capsular contracture again?

David Shifrin, MD · Answer

The chance of you experiencing another complication after having waiting 2 years is small. Your skin flaps have revascularized and this fact alone decreases your chances of another complication. Revisit your reconstruction with your plastic surgeon, or visit with another if you desire. Best of Luck

Thomas A. Pane, MD · Answer

You are not wasting your time by trying again, but the risk of a recurrent contracture is probably higher given that it has happened once already.  Revision may be done in a few ways, but none of them will guarantee a contracture will not recur.   It is very reasonable to try and many women have obtained success after this sort of early setback.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

If you have had a capsular contracture in the past, there is certainly a risk of developing another one. There are several different manuevers to help minimize this risk of recurrence.

Lee E. Corbett, MD · Answer

Things that can help reduce the risk of a capsule are the use a acellular dermal matrix products like Alloderm. Your surgeon can explain how these work. Using your own tissue, provided you are a candidate, is also an option. Meet with an experienced breast reconstruction surgeon, they can detail all of your options for you.

Robert Whitfield, MD · Answer

If you cam to me for a consult I would not recommend placement of expanders again.  I don't know your age but I expect that you would like a procedure that will be durable over the rest of your life.  Great options include using your lower abdominal tissue in the form of the DIEP flap or your inner thigh tissue, a PAP flap.  The flaps and other tissue reconstructions are routinely performed in my practice and high extremely high patient satisfaction.

If you had capsular contracture in the past, will it return again with breast implants?

Answers (5)