Symptoms Caused by Breast Capsular Contracture Side Effects, and What Are the Revision Surgery Methods?

[Bongbong Plastic Surgery]

Symptoms Caused by Breast Capsular Contracture Side Effects, and What Are the Revision Surgery Methods?

As women’s interest in appearance and body shape has increased, more people are considering breast augmentation to boost their confidence, or have already undergone surgery. Breast surgery, chosen with the hope of regaining beautiful curves and creating an ideal body line, often produces satisfactory results immediately after the operation, but as time passes, unexpected problems can arise and cause concern and worry.

In particular, if breast pain begins one day after surgery, the sensation becomes unnaturally firm, or even the shape changes abnormally, this may not be a simple temporary issue. It can be a situation in which you should suspect a representative side effect of breast plastic surgery called “capsular contracture.”

Capsular contracture occurs when the “capsule” formed by the body’s defensive response after breast implant insertion becomes hardened and contracts, causing the breast to gradually become firm, induce pain, and in severe cases, distort its shape to the point that it is visible to the eye, or create asymmetry in the size and position of the two breasts.

In general, when an implant is inserted, the human body recognizes it as a foreign body and naturally forms a thin membrane, which is a normal physiological response. However, if this capsule becomes too thick or contracts hard, problems arise. According to reported statistics, more than about 70% of all breast augmentation side effects are due to capsular contracture, and it is also one of the biggest causes of breast revision surgery.

However, exactly why capsular contracture occurs has not yet been clearly identified. That said, based on various clinical cases, there is a prevailing view that the likelihood of capsular contracture increases when there is excessive bleeding during surgery, a bacterial infection occurs, or an overly sensitive immune response to the implant develops within the body.

In other words, conditions at the time of surgery and variables during the recovery process combine to trigger a strong response in which the body tries to “encase and isolate the foreign object.”

If capsular contracture does occur, it is extremely rare for it to improve naturally or resolve on its own, so revision surgery should be considered based on an accurate diagnosis. If the breast feels like a hard lump, pain recurs, or discomfort is felt even when simply turning over during sleep, this can go beyond a minor inconvenience and affect quality of life.

Therefore, it is advisable to first accurately determine the thickness and location of the capsule, as well as the condition of the implant, through a detailed examination, and if revision surgery is deemed necessary, to establish a surgical plan as quickly as possible.

Breast revision surgery is not simply a matter of replacing the implant. It also involves completely removing the hardened inflammatory capsule, and if necessary, inserting a new implant or, depending on the patient’s condition, switching to reconstruction using autologous fat.

In particular, because capsular contracture has a high chance of recurring once it happens, a far more delicate and precise surgical plan than the first operation, as well as the experience of a skilled medical team, are crucial. During surgery, the capsule must be removed as thoroughly as possible, and careful management is essential during the infection prevention and recovery process afterward.

The choice of implant is also a very important factor. Recently, as implants with a more natural surface and better tissue adhesion than before have been developed, active efforts are being made to reduce the incidence of capsular contracture itself. When necessary, some cases also use dual-plane methods or precise endoscopic approaches to minimize bleeding and tissue damage.

In this way, by comprehensively considering the patient’s body shape, skin thickness, the condition of the breast tissue, and the structure of the chest wall, satisfactory results can only be achieved by approaching the procedure not as a simple “implant reinsertion surgery,” but as a “customized surgery for anatomical restoration of the entire breast.”

Most importantly, capsular contracture never disappears naturally, and because symptoms can worsen over time, the wisest choice is not to leave it untreated. Even if the pain is not severe, early diagnosis and management can greatly help reduce the likelihood of recurrence later and lower the extent and difficulty of surgery.

Therefore, it is very important to continue checking the condition of the implant and surrounding tissues through regular ultrasound examinations after surgery, and to consult the medical team and receive appropriate measures if you notice even small changes.