What is the best medicine to treat capsular contracture?

Capsular contracture is when your body is working overtime to protect you from an invader.  Common invaders that are often found with capsular contractures are pace makers, breast implants, and artificial hips.In the first 6 months after a capsular contracture forms, the use of Accolate, a pill also used to control asthma, can decrease or eliminate capsular contractures and their associated sequelae.  Along with Accolate, some surgeons utilize ultrasound (the kind physical therapists use for sore muscles) to break up scar tissue which is what capsular contractures are made of.Unfortunately, no non-surgical treatment is absolutely perfect and it does not work for everyone.  The gold standard for eliminating capsular contractures is still an open capsulectomy whereby the scar tissue that makes up the capsule is surgically excised and, in my personal practice, I have found the placement of Seri scaffolding to definitely decrease the incidence of capsular contracture recurrence.   

Dear Manhattan,   There are surgeons who use medication like Singular or Vitamin E for that purpose, but there are no reputable and repetitive studies that justify the usage of them. Moreover , their side effects are too serious for a non proven improvement.  In the early stages of capsule contracture post  breasts augmentation, intense implants displacement massage for 3-4 months can be very efficient. If that is not doing it, capsulotomy (scar release) is the next step. If the capsule is too thick and inflamed due to Biofilm' the capsule has to be excised and the implant replaced for optimal result and avoidance of recurrence.    Always, consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures of 'redo' breasts augmentation in the photo gallery, to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive with nice cleavage, perky, symmetrical and natural looking.                              Best of luck,                                            Dr Widder  

Thank you for your excellent question.  Unfortunately there are no medications or ointments that can treat capsular contracture, only surgical revision procedures.  If you are suffering with a contracture see your surgeon about options to correct and minimize future recurrence.

Not ideal to have capsular contracture, for you as a patient and for your surgeon.  In my experience, anti-inflammatory medication like Accolate, used for Asthma, has had some moderate success in treating this issue.  I have also recommended massaging and warm compresses applied to that area where the contracture is worst.  There is no clear solution of course.  Other medications like Cingulair have also shown benefit.  Hope this answers your question.ThanksDr VasishtSouth Jersey Plastic Surgery  

Hi and thanks for the question. There are some medicines that have been recommended for capsular contracture prevention including Singulair, but the primary treatment is surgery. Best of Luck- Dr Hardy...

Non surgical options are expounded upon in these responses. I have found results are very limited. Surgical options offer better outcomes but the added risks must be understood! 

A LOT of medicines and supplements (such as Vit. E, Papaverine, Accolate etc) and external methods (such as massages and ultrasound) have been tried to reverse capsular contracture. Unfortunately, they do not work AND in the case of Accolate may be uncommonly associated with liver disease.The best treatment is PREVENTION (by use of judicial surgical technique and Keller funnel). If capsular contracture occurs the next best thing is to partially remove the scar, replace the implants into a new pocket and support them with a scar busting biological sheet such as Strattice.Hope this helps.Peter Aldea, MD

As mentioned Singulair has been really the only medication shown to be at all beneficial in softening hardened capsules. However, if the degree of capsular contracture is moderate to severe depending upon how hard the breast is and how painful it is, the best option is till surgical complete removal of the internal capsule, and possibly using an acellular dermal matrix or certain meshes to minimize its reoccurrence after the implants are replaced.Best wishes

Unfortunately there are no good medications for capsular contractures; especially very hard capsules.  Your best option is surgical.

Sorry to hear about the complications you have experienced. Capsular contraction can be a very frustrating complication for both patients and surgeons. In my practice, I have found the use of Accolate or Singulair to be helpful in some patients.  The most successful surgical treatment of these difficult problems has been with utilizing techniques such as sub muscular pocket conversion (if relevant), capsulectomy, use of fresh implants, and the use of acellular dermal matrix. Acellular dermal matrix is a biologic implant that carries the ability to become integrated into native tissue. It is made by taking a full thickness section of skin from a donor source ( human, porcine, or bovine in origin). I hope this, and the attached link.