How to Decrease the Risks of Capsular Contracture

They say that the best defense is a good offense, and this is certainly the case when it comes to capsular contracture. While some surgeons still just cross their fingers and hope for the best, those who are staying up-to-date on the latest research and studies recognize the need for taking a proactive approach in decreasing the risks of this most common complication of breast implants.

Understanding Inflammatory Response

At its heart, capsular contracture is simply an overreaction by the body’s inflammatory response; it’s essentially an intention to heal that instead has the opposite effect. The solution, then, for minimizing the risks of development at all lie in limiting the factors that normally trigger that inflammatory response: the existing presence of bacterial strains that infect the surgical pocket, or the introduction of new bacteria during surgery itself.

There are a few ways that these risks can be mitigated:*

1. Irrigation of the surgical pocket with antimicrobial agents has shown effective reduction in capsular contracture rates after cosmetic breast augmentation.
2. Minimizing the amount of implant handling prior to insertion, such as by using the Keller funnel.
3. Considering inframammary rather than periareolar incisions, even during augmentation mastopexy; the ductal system harbors a greater amount of bacteria, leading to a potentially increased risk of contamination.

Currently, the results from taking these precautions have been encouraging. As research into the causes of capsular contracture continues, more light may be shed on better preventative measures that can be taken to preserve aesthetics during breast enhancement.*

*This information is for education only, and is not meant as a guarantee of results. Your results may vary.