Capsular Contracture Explained

Whenever the body has a foreign object, it forms a thin layer of scar tissue around it, called a capsule. This is normal. Capsular contracture happens when that capsule tightens and thickens, squeezing the implant.

What it can feel like

• A firmer breast
• A change in shape, with the implant looking rounder, higher or distorted
• Discomfort or pain
• In advanced cases, a hard, painful breast

The Baker grading

Surgeons often describe severity using four grades. The grade is a clinical description, not a prediction of what will happen next.

What causes it?

The exact cause is not fully understood. Factors that have been studied include bacterial contamination around the implant (biofilm), bleeding or fluid collection after surgery, infection, radiation therapy and implant characteristics. It can develop soon after surgery or years later.

How it is managed

Options depend on severity and your preferences. They can include observation for mild cases and surgery for more severe ones, such as removing the capsule (capsulectomy), replacing the implant or removing it altogether. Contracture can return after treatment.

Reducing risk

Surgeons use techniques intended to lower the chance, such as careful control of bleeding, minimising contamination and appropriate pocket choice. No technique guarantees prevention.

When to seek review

Tell your surgeon if one breast becomes firmer, changes shape or becomes painful. Early review gives more options.