11 days post-op and my breast still feel hard and tight, could it be capsular contracture? (Photo)

Thank you very much for your question and
photographs. At 11 days post-op, you are still in the early stage of recovery. Swelling
and a tight feeling across your breasts is common. In fact, residual swelling
can take up to six months or more to resolve. Over the next three to six
months, your implants will drop into place and settle, getting softer and
looking more natural. From your pictures, your breasts appear to be healthy and
your recovery on point. I recommend being patient with your body as it heals.
If the firmness does not slowly resolve, you begin to experience pain, or
swelling increases, contact your physician immediately. If you have further
concerns, do not hesitate to reach out to your operating surgeon for his/her
advice. Carefully follow all of their instructions during this time.

Good morning!For so fresh it looks completely normal, and it is typical that one side drops faster than the other. Ask your PS about massaging, etc., to encourage dropping and fluffing.

Hi cio90,

I understand your concern. It is not uncommon for your breasts to feel tight after breast augmentation surgery, as the tissues surrounding the implants are still swollen. The swelling will resolve overtime. 
Capsular contracture is a breast augmentation complication that develops when internal scar tissue forms a tight or constricting capsule around a breast implant, contracting it until it becomes misshapen and hard.

Capsular contracture happens. In fact, every implant has a capsule form around it. It is just a certain percentage develop thick capsules. There is a lot we don't know about it actually. Some think that bacteria that gets on the implant during insertion can increase the risk. That's why we use a Keller Funnel in our practice to reduce that possibility. Our capsular contracture rate is less than 2% because we use a keller funnel as well as meticulous operating room techniques.

However, if you experience significant change in the size of your breast and that your symptoms persists, it is best that you visit your plastic surgeon for an in-person examination. Only after a thorough examination you will get more information and recommendations.

Daniel Barrett, MD, MHA, MS

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery

Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Thank you for your question and photograph, and it appears that you will have a very nice result. After placement of implants, the appearance of the breasts will change dramatically over the next several months, as the implants drop, and the overlying tissue stretches to accommodate the extra volume. In your case the swelling from surgery is flattening your implants and holding them high on your chest.  As this swelling resolves, the volume within the implant will redistribute towards the lower portion of your breast achieving a more natural appearance, and filling your bra cup more.  After 11 days a capsular contracture would not have formed.  I know waiting is difficult, but judge your results at 4-6 months after surgery as most of your breast changes should have occurred by then. Hope this helps.

Congratulations on your breast augmentation, CIO90! The good news is that it is too early to have formed a true capsule around the implant, so contracture lalso can not yet form. It is not uncommon for the implants to feel hard and/or tight early after surgery, due to swelling and existing tightness of the tissues/muscle. Likewise, that same swelling and tightness causes the implants to sit up higher. As the tissues relax, the implants begin to settle. I find that massages, gentle stretch exercises, and a heating pad help tremendously in this regard. Your plastic surgeon would be in the best position to determine if the hardness and implant position is as expected or not, and would be able to make the best recommendations, based on his/her experience, to help you optimize your results. Hopefully, now that some more time has passed since your question, you already have started to see progress. Best of luck! Dr. Ghafoori