What is Capsular Contracture?

Scar Tissue Around an Implant that Causes Firmness of the Breast

A breast implant is placed in a pocket created under the breast. With round, smooth implants, the pocket is made slightly larger than the implant to maintain softness, a natural look and reduced potential for tight scar to occur around an implant.  Regardless of these efforts, some women will develop a tight scar around the implant that will squeeze the implant and cause the breast to become firm. The scar may progress from breast firmness to visibly firm breasts, to a painful breast. At any point along this continuum of scar tissue formation, you may elect to have surgery to soften the breast. Often, the scar also causes changes in the shape of the breast, requiring revision surgery to improve symmetry, as well as softening the breast.

Any breast revision surgery is complex and requires thoughtful planning and experience. Dr. Parva, board certified plastic surgeon, will review your surgical history and perform a comprehensive exam to determine the associated factors leading to the excessive scar formation.

The surgery may involve releasing the scar and reshaping the breast. In some cases, the extent of scar may require significant removal of the scar tissue and placement of Strattice™ Reconstructive Tissue Matrix, a graft material used to line the internal pocket to reduce the scar formation and support the implant.

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This 36 year-old young mom of 3 children had a breast augmentation with 410 cc. saline implants placed above the breast muscle in North Carolina 3 years previously. She developed breast pain and her left breast felt hard so she elected to revise her breast augmentation to relieve the capsular contracture. 457cc silicone implants were placed below the pectoralis muscle. She is 5-3 and 138lb. and seen 7 months after her surgery. She is now pain free and thrilled with her breast revision.
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