18 Apr Breast Augmentation Safety: 3 Ways To Reduce Capsular Contracture Risk
Augmentation’s Success Comes With Risk
More and more women are enjoying the benefits that come with breast augmentation. Installing silicone or saline implants provide more lift, size, and symmetry. Such changes can significantly increase a woman’s confidence. Surgeons have become more skilled over the years, resulting in high success and satisfaction rates. However, there is always the chance of complications, like capsular contracture. There are some steps both surgeon and patient can take to avoid this issue, which can lead to poor outcomes with the implant.
What is capsular contracture?
When a foreign object is surgically installed, the body forms scar tissue. The goal is to isolate the implant from the rest of the body. This is a natural phenomenon and even helps to keep the implant in place, but some people experience capsular contracture. The scar tissue becomes thick and stiff, contracting around the implant and leading to unwanted consequences. For example, the breasts feel hard, sometimes painful, and become misshapen. Capsular contracture often leads patients back to the surgeon for corrective surgery. However, the complication can be reduced with these 3 tips.
1. Size matters
Before surgery, the patient will choose an implant size and volume with the surgeon’s guidance. The implant should be proportional to the body, and there should also be sufficient breast tissue to accommodate the implant. Patients who choose large implants with insufficient breast tissue are more likely to experience capsular contracture.
2. Location is important
Another pre-surgical step is to determine the location of the implant. The surgeon will have the option of inserting the implant in front or behind the chest muscle. Choosing a submuscular approach, where the implant goes behind the chest wall, may reduce contracture risk. Even a combination approach, where part of the implant is behind the wall, may reduce the risk. Submuscular implants are also great for women with little breast tissue who want to avoid rippling.
3. Focus on recovery
After surgery, the patient can play a role in promoting recovery and reducing the risk of capsular contracture. Bacteria, infections, and other contaminants can increase the risk of complications like contracture. After surgery, keep the surgical site clean and change bandages accordingly. Use antibiotics or other surgeon-recommended medication to reduce the risk of harmful bacteria. There are also a series of massages the patient can perform several times daily to help with circulation.
Complication-free implants
Breast implants can look and feel fantastic after the recovery period is over. However, there is still the chance of capsular contracture occurring. Surgeons cannot predict if a patient will develop the condition as everyone heals differently. Taking precautions before and after surgery is the way to guarantee long-term satisfaction.