Capsular Contracture: What Is the Recurrence Rate After Revision Surgery? A Look at 1,324 Cases

Hello — we are U&U Plastic Surgery, and we performed 3023 breast augmentation procedures last year.

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One of my breasts is getting hard,

and the shape seems different from before,

so I had my suspicions.

I got examined at a clinic,

and it really is capsular contracture.

I've read that if I have revision surgery,

the odds of capsular contracture

go up even higher —

is that true?

I don't want to just have the implants removed,

but if it's going to recur anyway,

maybe there's no other choice.

Source

For those in a similar situation, we would like to show you 1 actual research study.

If capsular contracture has occurred once, how likely is it to occur again?

This study of 1324 women was conducted to answer that question.

The researchers divided participants into three groups:

1) primary surgery

2) revision surgery (*reason: capsular contracture)

3) revision surgery (*reason: not capsular contracture)

They then followed patients for an average of 6 years after surgery, recording the rate of capsular contracture in each of the three groups.

The results were reported as follows.

Group

Capsular contracture rate

Primary surgery

1.07%

Revision surgery

(*reason: not capsular contracture)

1.12%

Revision surgery

(*reason: capsular contracture)

9.57%

You can see that the recurrence rate is far higher in those who have had capsular contracture even once.

Why on earth is there such a difference?

Source

The researchers explained the unusually high recurrence rate as follows:

- Tissue that has previously developed capsular contracture carries a 'memory' of repeated inflammation, so hardening readily happens again after revision surgery.

- If the capsule tissue or the bacterial biofilm within the tissue is not completely removed, the newly formed capsule can thicken again.

There are, however, ways to lower that high recurrence rate.

Capsulectomy

: complete removal of the existing capsule

Changing the implant plane

: placing the implant in a different space, not the one where contracture occurred

Changing the implant type

: switching to an implant more favorable to forming a healthy capsule

A sterile surgical environment to eliminate biofilm, and more..

: washing away the invisible bacterial film on the implant surface

Alternatives like these exist, so please be sure to discuss them with your surgeon.

About 10 years ago, our breast surgeons appeared on the TV program 'Let Me In'

Capsular contracture is a complication that worsens the longer it is left alone.

Just as a scar hardens as a wound ages, the inflammation inside your capsule can make the breast harder and harder.

And that worsened state, in turn, raises the recurrence rate of capsular contracture down the road.

Of course, going back on the operating table is frightening. And the anxiety of another recurrence is real.

But for the sake of your own body, rather than standing by helplessly, we hope you will seek your medical team's help.

Listed as an author on breast surgery research papers in the 2000s

The article below organizes the criteria for judging whether revision surgery is needed when capsular contracture symptoms appear.

If you need to judge whether you truly need revision surgery or are still at a stage manageable with non-surgical treatment, please be sure to read it.

〈 Criteria for judging whether revision surgery is needed when symptoms appear 〉

Capsular Contracture After Breast Surgery: Revision Outcomes from an Actual Published Study

Capsular contracture after breast surgery - before we begin, a notice. * Currently, U&U Plastic Surgery…

blog.naver.com

For those researching capsular contracture, that is everything we have prepared.

Finally, for those returning to a plastic surgery clinic after several years, we close by sharing a helpful resource.

[Free PDF]

A collection of breast surgery Q&As

from 2 years in mom-community forums

Source

For 2 years, we ran a Q&A on breast augmentation in mom-community forums.

We answered questions about complications such as capsular contracture, as well as questions from those weighing important life stages such as childbirth and pregnancy.

Hoping to help those interested in breast augmentation, we share a selection of the most frequently asked questions from the Q&A.

[Free PDF] A collection of breast surgery Q&As from 2 years in mom-community forums

blog.naver.com

U&U Plastic Surgery currently keeps to a principle of 3 surgeries / 6 consultations per surgeon per day.

If you would like a consultation with us, please book through Naver Booking via the map below.

That is everything we have prepared.

Thank you for reading this long article.

This has been U&U Plastic Surgery — a breast surgery clinic born of 20 years of research devoted to the breast.

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U&U Plastic Surgery Clinic

Myungkwang Building, 819 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul