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Exploring Health Concerns and Treatments


About Me

Exploring Health Concerns and Treatments

Hello, my name is Tony Williams. Welcome to my site about health concerns. When I was a young child, I was rather sickly. I was in and out of the hospital on a regular basis, as doctors tried to diagnose the conditions affecting my body and mind. Through the years, I learned an immense amount of information about the medical field. I will use this site to explore health concerns and their treatment options in great detail. I invite you to learn more about this important topic, so you are prepared well before the information is needed. Thank you for visiting my site.

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Breast Augmentation—Understanding Capsular Contracture Risks

If you have recently started working with a plastic surgeon to schedule and arrange a breast augmentation operation, then you probably having been involved in many conversations about your surgery. This is ideal so you can be sure that you will be getting the results you desire. During some of your conversations, you are likely to learn about some of the complications that are associated with augmentation surgery. One of these complications is called capsular contracture. Keep reading to learn about capsular contracture, who is at risk, and how you can work to avoid it.

What Is Capsular Contracture?

When you go through breast augmentation surgery, you will be given a general anesthetic. Incisions will then be made around the side and bottom of each areola, along the armpit, or underneath your breasts. An implant is placed through the incision and slipped either underneath or on top of the pectoral muscle. Incisions are then closed, and the surgical area is wrapped in gauze and a compression garment. 

Once the surgery is over, your body will begin to heal. Your body will naturally create scar tissue as it heals. The tissue will develop around each incision to close the wounds. Scar tissue will also develop around the implants. The process encloses the implants and keeps them stable within your breasts. 

Sometimes the body will develop too much scar tissue. When this tissue forms a thick layer around the implants, they will compress. This can cause a great deal of pressure in your chest. You are also likely to feel pain and soreness, and the breasts will feel hard as well. As scar tissue builds, the breasts also may appear flat or bulge unnaturally to the sides. 

Who Is At Risk Of Developing Capsular Contracture?

Thankfully, only a very small percentage of women will develop capsular contracture. If you have an autoimmune disorder or if you are extremely sensitive to implants and foreign bodies, then you may develop the condition. Basically, your body will build more scar tissue than it should to protect you from the foreign implant. 

Also, if you are prone to infections, then you may be at risk of the complication. Infections, especially the low-grade variety, can interfere with healing and cause the overproduction of scar tissue. 

Also, if the implant places too much pressure on the skin and causes it to stretch, the body may create more scar tissue. Breast trauma, bleeding after surgery, substantial swelling difficulties, the development of a hematoma, and the buildup of fluid around the breasts are also things that can contribute to the formation of capsular contracture.

How Can You Prevent Capsular Contracture?

Some women will develop capsular contracture for no reason. However, it can be prevented in most cases by making sure that you work closely with your surgeon to choose an appropriately sized implant for your body. Also, discussing autoimmune disorders beforehand with the professional can be helpful. 

You also will need to follow aftercare instructions carefully. You will need to restrict movement significantly during the first few days after surgery to reduce bleeding issues. You will also need to wear a compression garment to minimize swelling and to reduce your risk of developing a hematoma. If you do notice severe bruising underneath the skin, then you should contact your surgeon immediately. The hematoma may need to be drained. Drainage may also be necessary if you notice substantial swelling and feel chest pressure. 

During the first few months after the operation, you should spend some time massaging the breasts, especially around the incision areas, to break up some of the scar tissue. Avoiding activities like high-impact sports that can cause breast trauma is a good idea as well. 

Following a good diet and fluid regimen can also help to minimize surgical risks, so make sure to work with your surgeon to come up with a specific recovery plan that can minimize your capsular contracture risks. Contact a plastic surgeon at a location such as Renaissance Center For Facial & Body Sculpting to learn more.