As with all surgery there are associated risks and potential complications. Some risks are related to surgery itself such as swelling, redness, bleeding, pain or a reaction to anaesthesia. These are all quite common experiences in the first few weeks in the healing journey. Patients are given direct contact details to our medical team once discharged, should they want to discuss any post surgical concerns.
Here we list the most common long-term complications
that have to do with breast augmentation,
and the fact that a breast augmentation introduces a
foreign material into the body – the implant.
Capsular contracture
As when any implant is inserted into the body, such as with breast implants, an immune response will trigger the body to create a scar tissue around the foreign object. In some cases the collagen fibre tissue capsule shrinks and tightens and compresses the implant. This can make the breasts feel hard and give them a unnatural look, this condition is called capsular contracture.
The problem of capsule contraction around breast implants
has always existed and no clear cause has been established. In the 70’s,
they managed to reduce the risk by placing the smooth implants that were
then used deeper, under the large pectoral muscle. Later, in the 80’s,i
mplants were developed with an uneven, textured surface, which further
reduced the risk and again, with a relatively small risk of capsule contraction,
the implants could be placed both in front of and behind the pectoral muscle.
The following are believed to increase the risk of developing
capsule contraction:
- Transmitted bacterial infection. Bacterial contamination and / or
prolonged bacterial contamination of the implant casing can cause
an inflammatory reaction, leading to shrinkage of the capsule.
- Subglandular location. Breast implants placed above
the muscle tend to have a higher frequency of capsule
contraction, compared to breast implants placed below the muscle.
- Infection. Capsule contraction seems to occur more often in connection with infections.
- Serum (fluid formation). If you have had a serum,
it may increase the risk of capsule formation.
- Hematoma (bleeding). A hematoma can cause an inflammatory reaction,
which can lead to capsule contraction.
Currently there is 10% risk of capsular contracture within 10 years after all breast augmentation that are performed around the world. Studies have shown that with the implant choice and method we use at Victoriakliniken we have a statistic below 5% risk of capsular contracture of the last 15 years.
The goal at Victoriakliniken is to have a zero risks of capsular contracture, which we actively are working on. Our efforts have brought us to today’s statistic of 2-4%.
You can read more about this in our statistics section.
Capsule contraction can be surgically remedied by so-called
capsule cleavage, which is usually performed no earlier than six
months after the breast augmentation operation. However, it is important
to remedy a capsule contraction as soon as possible as otherwise the tissue
around the implant will gradually thin out. There is a 50% risk that
a new capsule contraction will occur despite this surgery.