This October, the Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery hosted a conference in Sydney on facial enhancement, body contouring and breast surgery. A popular topic, as always, was breast augmentation, one of Australia’s best loved cosmetic procedure. A seminar led by Dr Nimrod Freidman, a respected plastic surgeon from Tel Aviv, included a fascinating discussion on revision breast augmentation…

A procedure requested by nearly 20% of patients after their initial surgery

Cosmetic reasons, such as the desire for larger implants, lead to many of these requests. However, Dr Friedman identified capsular contracture as one of the primary reasons patients need breast revision surgery.

Dr Norris Explains Capsular Contracture

Dr Ben Norris, the founder of our cosmetic surgery practice, specialises in cosmetic surgery of the breast. He has extensive experience in techniques that produce highly desirable short-scar and minimal-scar results. Fortunately for patients at Form and Face, he is equally experienced with the internal scarring known as capsular contracture.

In capsular formation and contraction, an envelope of scar tissue develops around the implant. Why? “The body’s normal response to a foreign object such as a silicon implant is to form a shell around it as protection,” explains Dr Norris. “Whether that scar tissue will harden or not is difficult to predict, but fortunately it’s possible to correct. Correct implant selection goes a long way towards not needing revision surgery, which is why I spend so much time helping my patients choose the right implant.”

Why Capsular Contracture is a Problem for Some Breast Implant Patients

Over time, anywhere from a week to years after implant surgery, a capsule of scar tissue forms and can tighten painfully under the skin.

This contraction leads to physical and aesthetic problems such as:

Displacement of the implant
Hardening of the breast
Increased (and unpleasant) sensitivity)
Wrinkling of the breast

Surgery to break up or remove the scar capsule is called capsulotomy.

Dr Norris’Top 5 Tips for Best Breast Augmentation Recovery

Dr Norris reminds patients that successful surgical outcomes are a team effort that involves patient participation. At Form and Face, we give patients post-surgical instructions to follow so that they don’t injure themselves or cause complications.

At the top of Dr Norris’ suggestions for helping prevent capsular contracture after breast augmentation surgery are:

Stop Power Lifting – Don’t lift anything heavy, and by “heavy” we mean something the weight of a small kitten. Lifting can trigger bleeding.

Don’t Reach for the Something Beyond Your Grasp – You can reach for the stars all you wish in your mind, but don’t lift your arms over your head to reach for something from the cabinet.

Take Your Medication – Infection can lead to problems with the hardening of the tissue around breast implants, so be sure to follow the course of antibiotic medicine prescribed by your surgeon.

Let Your Surgeon Know If You Take Other Medication – The drug action of some medications can interfere with your body’s ability to clear scar tissue.

Make Time/Take Time for a Massage – Massaging your breasts regularly during the first three months after your procedure can help lower the risk of scar tissue forming and hardening around your implants

Would You Like to Know More?

If you would like to know more about breast enhancement, body contouring, and all the things we do to make men and women look and feel their best, please contact Form and Face on 02 9387 3800 to schedule a consultation.