Hello, I am a healed breast cancer patient who is scheduled to have an explant of my sub-muscular, saline implants next month. I got my first set of implants 15 years ago, and the implants I have now are from 2009. My surgeon would like to perform a partial capsulectomy; however, he said my implants are "very soft", and that "there is no evidence of capsule contracture". Is a capsulectomy truly necessary?
November 19, 2021
Answer: Capsulectomy as necessary There is a difference of opinion on this issue but in my opinion and experience, there is no reason to remove any of the capsule around an existing implant unless it is abnormal in some way. It's much like removing an old scar. There is no value in just removing a normal scar and a new one will form in its place. In the case of the scar around an implant, it is called a capsule and if removed there will be a new layer of scar where it healed, it just wouldn't be called a capsule. In my experience, there is no need to remove the capsule because of worries about seroma but a closed or open drain could be placed if this were a concern. Abnormal capsule that needs to be removed, particularly in the case of breast cancer, would include thickening, heavy calcification, pseudo-capsule, or any abnormal growth or appearance of the capsule. In my opinion there is no medical justification for removal of any part of a normal capsule around a cosmetic implant. Removing it adds time, complexity, and risk to the procedure of implant removal and doesn't accomplish anything.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
November 19, 2021
Answer: Capsulectomy as necessary There is a difference of opinion on this issue but in my opinion and experience, there is no reason to remove any of the capsule around an existing implant unless it is abnormal in some way. It's much like removing an old scar. There is no value in just removing a normal scar and a new one will form in its place. In the case of the scar around an implant, it is called a capsule and if removed there will be a new layer of scar where it healed, it just wouldn't be called a capsule. In my experience, there is no need to remove the capsule because of worries about seroma but a closed or open drain could be placed if this were a concern. Abnormal capsule that needs to be removed, particularly in the case of breast cancer, would include thickening, heavy calcification, pseudo-capsule, or any abnormal growth or appearance of the capsule. In my opinion there is no medical justification for removal of any part of a normal capsule around a cosmetic implant. Removing it adds time, complexity, and risk to the procedure of implant removal and doesn't accomplish anything.
Helpful 5 people found this helpful
