Capsulectomy (Corrective Breast Surgery)

Breasts are usually not exactly identical in a female. However, at times one breast is much larger than the other or patients might have tuberous breast deformities (pointed breasts due to constricted inferior pole of the breast). Tuberous breast Corrective breast surgery is performed in patients with either breast deformities, breast size differences, or even in patients who have had breast irregularities due to previous surgeries. Examples of complications associated with surgery that might need surgical corrections include deflated implants, capsular contracture (excessive scar tissue formation) after breast augmentation, areola mal-position after Mastoplexy, wide space between implants or too little space between implants, or rippling with saline implants.

Capsulectomy involves surgical excision of capsular contracture around a breast implant. Capsular contracture or the formation of scar tissue around the implant occurs in about 10 percent of patients within the first 10 years of breast augmentation. Some studies suggest that a systemic infectious or inflammatory process may trigger the immune system and cause the inflammatory cells to make more scar tissue around the implant. Hematoma or bacterial contamination can also contribute to capsular contraction. Capsules can thicken and by squeezing the implant, distort the appearance of the breasts.

Procedure Description

• With capsular contracture, scar tissue might be excised, when the implant is reinserted into the pocket. Open Capsulectomy where the surgeon excises the scar tissue is preferred technique over closed procedure where the surgeon squeezes the implant to break up the scar tissue. Closed Capsulectomy has risk of implant rupture
• In case of areola mal-position, the position of the areola will be revised
• In patients with rippling with saline implants, your Doctor might replace your saline implant with silicone implants
• In case of excessive space between the implants or too little space between your implants your surgeon might place corrective sutures to widen the space between the implants or open the pocket to decrease the space between the implants
• In case of deflated implants your surgeon will replace your previous implants. Your surgeon will discuss options of corrective surgery at time of your initial consultation

Recovery

• Postoperative discomfort is usually controlled with oral medications
• A soft bra is usually worn for at least several weeks postoperatively
• External sutures are usually removed between 1-2 weeks after surgery
• Light activity may be resumed in 7 to 10 days
• Sports activities may be resumed in 6 weeks

Please Call or Email Vicky with any questions