Breast Capsulectomy
Scottsdale AZ & GIlbert AZ

A capsulectomy surgically removes scar tissue, called capsular contracture, that forms around surgical implants.

About Breast Capsulectomy in Scottsdale AZ & Gilbert AZ

About ten percent of breast implant patients show signs of capsular contracture. They may experience pain as scar tissue tightens around the breast and the breast itself may harden. It will also look and certainly feel different.

Surgeons haven’t yet found how to fix a capsular contracture other than removing part or all of it. In a total breast capsulectomy, the entire scar structure around the implant is removed. More commonly, surgeons perform a partial capsulectomy to remove only the front (anterior) section of the capsular contracture. Periprosthetic capsulectomy refers to the total procedure and placing new implants.

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How to Prepare for Capsulectomy of the Breast

Preparing for breast capsulectomy in Scottsdale AZ & Gilbert AZ is the same as preparing for the implant itself. You will be instructed about what medications to avoid in the time leading up to surgery. Since sedation is used, you’ll also be asked to stop eating and drinking at midnight on the day of surgery.

What to Expect From Breast Capsulectomy

There will be swelling following surgery, that may last a few weeks. You might go home with drainage tubes from the wound, which should be kept covered with gauze.

Notify your surgeon immediately if you discover any lumps around your breast; this could be fluid or blood collecting or a lymph node reaction.

Breast Capsulectomy FAQs

No one knows for sure what causes it other than that people’s bodies react differently when a foreign object is placed in them. Capsular contracture is the most common complication with any implant, breast or otherwise.

Some surgeons recommend antibiotics before receiving breast implants to minimize the chance of infection. Thorough irrigation of the surgical site with sterilized saline might also minimize the chance that scar tissue will develop to the point of creating a capsular contracture.

Unlike capsulectomy, capsulotomy does not remove any part of the capsular contracture itself, but instead, tries to break up the scar tissue. An open capsulotomy does this surgically by removing the envelope around the capsular contracture. A closed capsulotomy manually squeezes the capsule to break the scar. This procedure is not recommended as it can also rupture the implant.

If you have questions about breast capsulectomy, please contact one of our offices for a consultation.