Capsulotomy is a procedure in which part of the “capsule” of scar tissue surrounding a breast implant is removed.
The procedure is performed as a means of fixing capsule formation orcapsular contracture, the most common complication ofbreast augmentation surgery.
UpperCut Images / Getty Images
Capsular Contracture
Capsular contracture occurs when scar tissue forms around breast implants.This complication occurs in approximately 10 percent of people who’ve had a breast implant, and it typically happens within the first twelve months after surgery.
The likelihood of a contracture developing is lower with the use of textured implants, submuscular placement, and polyurethane coated implants.
During capsular contracture, the breast may harden, look and feel different, and may feel uncomfortable as the tissue tightens around the implant.
While some scientific data supports an immune response as the cause of this complication (meaning a person’s immune system reacts against the implant causing a chronic inflammatory response), it’s also been thought that an infection from multiple bacteria may also contribute to it.
Capsulotomy Procedure
You may need a surgical procedure if you’ve had a moderate to severe contracture and can feel firmness of the capsule. These types of capsule contractures are graded and known as Bakes III and Baker IV capsules.
There are two ways a capsulotomy can be done:
Recovery After Surgery
Postoperative swelling can last for several weeks. If you feel a lump of any kind during this time, visit your surgeon promptly, especially if it increases in size quickly. The lump could be a collection of blood or fluid or a reactivelymph node. These complications may require further treatment.
Preventing Capsular Contracture
There may be some ways to prevent capsular contracture from happening in the first place. Some surgeons may recommend that you perform implant displacement exercises post-operatively. Your surgical team will teach you what you need to do.
Be sure to follow-up closely with your surgeon, and tell them about any worries or new symptoms promptly.
Scar Tissue Massage and Management
1 SourceVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Swanson E.Open Capsulotomy: An Effective but Overlooked Treatment for Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open.2016;4(10):e1096. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001096Additional ReadingHeadon H, Kasem A, Mokbel K.Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation: An Update for Clinical Practice.Arch Plast Surg. 2015;42(5):532-43. doi:10.5999/aps.2015.42.5.532Nahabedian, M. (July 2016). Complications of reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery. In: UpToDate, Butler CE (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA.
1 Source
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Swanson E.Open Capsulotomy: An Effective but Overlooked Treatment for Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open.2016;4(10):e1096. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001096Additional ReadingHeadon H, Kasem A, Mokbel K.Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation: An Update for Clinical Practice.Arch Plast Surg. 2015;42(5):532-43. doi:10.5999/aps.2015.42.5.532Nahabedian, M. (July 2016). Complications of reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery. In: UpToDate, Butler CE (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Swanson E.Open Capsulotomy: An Effective but Overlooked Treatment for Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation.Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open.2016;4(10):e1096. doi:10.1097/GOX.0000000000001096
Headon H, Kasem A, Mokbel K.Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation: An Update for Clinical Practice.Arch Plast Surg. 2015;42(5):532-43. doi:10.5999/aps.2015.42.5.532Nahabedian, M. (July 2016). Complications of reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery. In: UpToDate, Butler CE (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA.
Headon H, Kasem A, Mokbel K.Capsular Contracture after Breast Augmentation: An Update for Clinical Practice.Arch Plast Surg. 2015;42(5):532-43. doi:10.5999/aps.2015.42.5.532
Nahabedian, M. (July 2016). Complications of reconstructive and aesthetic breast surgery. In: UpToDate, Butler CE (Ed), UpToDate, Waltham, MA.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
