Thanks for your inquiry. Late encapsulation can occur. Some of the reason include implant rupture, trauma leading to a hematoma, muscle tears, and a low grade infection. Please seek the consultation of a board certified plastic surgeon in your area.
Yes, although it is less likely as each year goes on it certainly can happen at any point in the lifespan of an implant. If you are concerned, go see a board certified plastic surgeon near you for a formal assessment. best of luck!
The capsule (scar tissue) around a breast implant is dynamic. The existence of this capsule is related to the immune system's need to wall off foreign objects within our bodies. Therefore, the comments below are equally true of artificial hips, pacemakers, breast implants etc.The concept of a dynamic capsule around any foreign body means that there is a constant production of new collagen or myofibroblasts and an equally constant destruction or dissolution of old scar tissue. For one's breasts to stay soft, there must be an equilibrium between new in and old out. Any presence of a new invader into the body causes one's immune system to actively increase the new collagen, etc. being used to wall off all foreign bodies. This imbalance can lead to hard breasts. The most common cause of a capsular contracture after years of soft breasts is the DENTIST, especially teeth cleaning. Whenever blood enters the mouth, there is a point of entry for oral bacteria into the body. This is seen as an invader. The immune system beefs up and walls off all foreign bodies to include breast implants. I always recommend my patients take antibiotics prior to dentist visits to neutralize oral flora before any blood enters the mouth, therefore decreasing the chance of a cascade leading to hard breasts.
