Plastic Surgery Q and A What causes Capsular contracture?

Question: What causes Capsular contracture?
Answer: Some patients heal more aggressively than others and some form capsular contracture which is scar tissue that forms around the breast implant. The scar constricts and pulls against the breast implant. Capsular contracture can happen in one or both breasts and it may only happen once or in a small percentage of patients it can reoccur. Capsular contracture may be painful and it may also distort the shape of the breast. In some extreme cases it may cause an implant rupture because the scar is so tightly contracted around the implant. Capsular contracture can happen soon after breast surgery or years afterwards. It varies. Generally if capsular contracture occurs surgery is recommended to remove the capsule and remove and replace the breast implants.