Capsular Contracture ,What is the Best Way to Treat it at Home?
I would like to know if deep tissue massage regularly is the best way? using a massage machine that vibrates and pulsates at different levels regularly? also what about medicine? I appreciate any advice towards my question, thanks.
Answer:
Capsules form around breast implants within days of their placement. The capsules are basically scar tissue that surrounds the implants .The formation of scar around the breast implant is normal as a breast implant capsule.. When it is excessively thick and/or tight scar tissue around the breast implant tight it is known as a capsule contracture. We do not know why or how this happens. For a variety of reasons muscle like contractile cells can appear in the capsule wall. When they contract we see/feel a hard breast (capsular contracture) with variable degrees of surface outline distortion, from the outside the breast implant is deformed from the capsule that is progressively shrinking. That is usually seen at months or years after surgery. The longer the contracture has been present the harder it is to treat and the more aggressive the treatment/surgery that is required.
and the severity of the capsule can be assigned to one of three categories:
Category 1: Breast is more firm than usual, but not visibly different or painful
Category 2: Breast is firm and visibly different in shape or appearence
Category 3: Breast is firm, visibly different, and painful
The best way to prevent capsular contracture is to do breast massages both medially and superiorly 3x per day. You should do this for at least the first year after breast augmentation and continue it daily thereafter for the duration of the implants to minimize closure of the capsule. Massage is usually recommended immediately following the surgery and can be continued for months to years , but is absolutely no scientific evidence that it helps prevent contractures.
If the capsular contracture has only be present for a few days or weeks it may be amenable to non-surgical treatment such as deep massage. It really depends on how long you have noticed it…If it is just starting, then I have had patients have success with alternating deep massage. Home massage, however will not likely make a difference if the capsule is already significant or contracted.
Endermologie (the combination of rollers and suction pressure applied to the skin surface) can be a good way to get the massage movement deep enough under the skin to stretch and soften the capsule.
Singulair and Vit E can be used but likely have very little effect. Singulair is a widely used asthma medication that can sometimes help. This is an off label use of this medicine. but this does not necessarily work in every patient. Time likely will either help relax the capsule somewhat or keep it relatively unchanged
There is nothing you can do to treat established capsular contracture at home. Overly aggressive pressure maneuvers may cause damage to your implants. Finally surgery is an option to correct this by removing the capsule entirely or releasing it in areas to accommodate the implant.
