Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming? (Photo)

Question

Hello! I am 28 day PO from breast implants. I have 550 CC Mentor silicone submuscular, transaxillary incision. I have an appointment for 1 week from now, but feeling a lot of anxiety, and was hoping to gain some clarity; in hopes to ease my mind, and so that I can make sure I’m asking my doctor the appropriate questions. My right breast has been sitting higher from day 1, but now it feels really firm. No pain though. I’m terrified of capsular contracture, how do I tell if it’s forming?

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Sensations of tightness in the skin envelope and breast in the first few weeks after breast augmentation is to be expected and should not be interpreted as capsular contracture.  If there are concerns for capsular contracture and the breasts feel hard, the plastic surgeon should examine you.  Capsular contracture is progressive, whereas swelling and tightness should resolve.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question and photograph.  After a month’s time it would be extremely uncommon to have formed a capsular contracture, but characteristic findings would include increased hardness to the breast and an elevated chest appearance.  It is difficult to comment on your results without seeing your before image, but remember that most patients will see changes to their breast appearance in the 6-8 week mark after surgery, so hang in there!

Anne Taylor, MD · Answer

Hello. Thanks for sending the picture. The implants will seem firmer for the first few months, but it does look like the right side is higher too. The best thing to do is to follow the advice of your plastic surgeon since she knows your situation best.   The pocket on the right might have been made a little differently than the left, and if the dissection was not as low, then the implant will ride higher. It takes capsules a little longer to start also. Breast Wishes.

David M. Deisher, MD (retired) · Answer

Thank you for your question and photo.  It would be very unusual to develop capsular contracture 1 month after surgery.  In my opinion the trans axillary approach has the highest incidence of implants sitting up to high and asymmetry along the breast fold.  The pocket dissection for the R side may have been slightly different than the left side.  Continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon.  If no improvement is seen in 4-6 months than revision surgery may be needed.  Good luck.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Make you for your question.  I have never seen a capsular contracture form in the first month but usually they do not appear before 6 months after surgery.  Capsule is unlikely you have a capsular contracture.  Look at your preop photos and see if the right breast was smaller and/or higher than the left breast.  The most common cause of the asymmetry that you describe is that one breast is smaller and thus feels firmer and higher in the same size implant in the larger breast.  Another possibility is that during the transaxillary procedure the pocket on the left side was made too low.  Discuss this with your surgeon.

Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Capsular contracture

Answer: Capsular contracture

Answer: Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming?

Answer: Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming?

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Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming? (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Capsular contracture

Answer: Capsular contracture

Answer: Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming?

Answer: Trying to be patient and trust the process, but is this normal? How do I tell if capsular contracture is forming?

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Breast Augmentation

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.