What is the Best Way to Treat Capsular Contracture at Home?

Capsules form around breast implants within days of their placement. The capsules are basically scar tissue that surrounds the implants. For a variety of reasons muscle like contractile cells can appear in the capsule wall. When they contract we see/feel a hard breast (capsular contracture) with variable degrees of surface outline distortion from the outside. The longer the contracture has been present the harder it is to treat and the more aggressive the treatment/surgery that is required. If the capsular contracture has only be present for a few days or weeks it may be amenable to non-surgical treatment such as deep massage. I have found endermologie (the combination of rollers and suction pressure applied to the skin surface) to be a good way to get the massage movement deep enough under the skin to stretch and soften the capsule.

I do not think you can get the same penetration of the massage using a vibrating or pulsating surface massager. Lying on the floor and pressing the breast/implants into the floor would not have the same effect on the capsule. Rapidly putting the breasts into the floor is more likley to tear the capsule and rupture the implant. Slowly doing so is not likely to work.

I hope you realize that this format of posting questions and receiving answers lacks the face to face direct communication required for you to make an informed decision regarding your surgery.

My response to your question/post does not represent formal medical advice or constitute a doctor patient relationship. You need to consult with i.e. personally see a board certified plastic surgeon in order to receive a formal evaluation and develop a doctor patient relationship.

Capsular contracture is when the body develops significant scar tissue around the implant and cause the implant to deform in appearance as well as causing pain in the long term.  There are many many reasons why capsular contracture can happen, but one of the main reason that capsular contracture happens is from biofilm (from bacteria) gets on the implant and causes the body to "wall off" the implant.There is no real good treatment other than surgery, but some things that many possibly help if caught early on are medications and implant/scar massage.I would recommend you see your plastic surgeon or find a board certified plastic surgeon in your area who has experience in breast revision surgery who can evaluate you and discuss with you your options.Hope that helps.

#Capsular #Contraction is the scar tissue that forms around the implant is a natural response to a foreign object implanted in the body. The capsule can tighten and squeeze the implant making it firm. This is referred to as capsular contracture. This #firmness (breast capsule) can range from slight to very hard. The firmest ones can cause varying degrees of discomfort or pain. Capsular contracture can occur in one breast or both. Those experiencing this are candidates for Breast #Revision Surgery. An implant revision or exchange intends to replace the damaged #implants with new silicone or saline filled implants with newer technology. Secondary breast surgery can be #complex and needs to be done by an experienced plastic surgeon. The specific procedure to be performed will depend on the complications experienced and the condition of the implants.

Hello! Thank you for your question!  Sorry to hear of your issues with capsular contracture, which is often difficult to deal with.  Surgical intervention is sometimes necessary.  It is a matter of surgeon
preference as well as what is seen during your procedure that will
determine whether or not a complete capsulectomy is performed. If
significant capsule formation is seen intraoperatively, a full capsule
removal may be warranted with a drain in order to completely remove all
of the tissue and allow better adherence of your breast back to its
normal anatomic position down on your chest wall. If minimal contracture
is seen, it may be possible to leave the capsule, or place cuts within
the capsule to allow better adherence. It truly is dependent on what is
seen with your capsule and the issues that may be causing you to have
such a procedure (e.g., contracture from ruptured implant vs pain vs
simple pocket adjustment, etc). Implants may or may not be replaced depending on your discussion and reason for capsulectomy. At home, implant massage is one that has shown benefit.  The methods you state may have some benefit as well.  I would discuss with your surgeon about the use of other medications, such as Singulair, that has some proven benefit for treatment of recurrent contracture.  Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

Not every plastic surgeon recommends implant massage
following breast augmentation but the vast majority of surgeons believe it’s
extremely important.This procedure is
designed to prevent the development of capsular contractures.Unfortunately, once the capsule has
developed, the effectiveness of this technique is minimal. For
this reason, the majority of patients with severe capsular contractures require
re-operative surgery. Before proceeding with implant massage, it’s important to
thoroughly discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon.He will teach you the proper technique of
massage if this proves to be indicated.Unfortunately, the vast majority of patients with severe capsular
contractures require secondary surgery.

You need to see your surgeon to determine what you can do to help treat capsular contracture. It is important that they give you this advice since you may make your condition worse if what you do is done improperly. Best of luck.

The best way to prevent capsular contracture is to do breast massages both medially and superiorly 3x per day.  You should do this for at least the first year after breast augmentation and continue it daily thereafter for the duration of the implants to minimize closure of the capsule.

In most cases surgical intervention will be needed in patients who develop capsular contracture.  Singulair, breast message and Vit E can be used but likely have very little effect. Time likely will either help relax the capsule somewhat or keep it relatively unchanged.  Follow up closely with your surgeon, but be prepared for possible surgical intervention if things are not better between 6-9 months. Good Luck.

Unfortunately there are no proven effective treatments that you can do to either prevent or treat capsular contracture on your own. Though some doctors recommend massage, there is absolutely no scientific evidence that it helps prevent contractures. See your plastic surgeon, who is in the best position to evaluate and treat.

It really depends on how long you have noticed it…If it is just starting, then I have had patients have success with alternating deep massage, laying on the floor face down, hands on breasts, and lifting your hips up off the ground so that all your weight is on your breast, and also laying face down on the kitchen counter and rocking on that breast…But this really only has some success if the CC is just starting! Once it has been there for over 4-6 months, probably not.