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Breast Capsular Contracture

When a breast implant is placed, the body forms a scar tissue capsule around it. This capsule contracts abnormally in some women, leading to capsular contracture, causing distortion, discomfort, and compromised cosmetic or functional results.

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Excellence in Breast Revision Surgery by Dr. Rady Rahban

Dr. Rady Rahban is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon with a national reputation for surgical excellence, patient advocacy, and uncompromising standards of care. With a specialty in complex breast revision procedures, including capsular contracture treatment in Beverly Hills, Dr. Rahban is known for delivering outstanding results while leading with integrity and championing ethical, transparent care.

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What Causes Capsular Contracture?

While this complication most commonly develops within the first few months after surgery, it can occur at any time, even years later. Capsular contracture is graded on a scale from I to IV:

  • Grade I: The breast looks and feels completely natural.
  • Grade II: The breast feels slightly firm, but still appears normal.
  • Grade III: The breast feels firm and appears abnormal or misshapen.
  • Grade IV: The breast is hard, painful, and visibly distorted.

Extensive research continues, but no definitive cause for capsular contracture has been established. Key risk factors include:

  • Implant Placement: Subglandular placement (above the muscle) has a higher contracture rate (up to 50%), while submuscular placement (under the muscle) reduces the risk to 5-10%. Dr. Rahban typically opts for submuscular placement.
  • Post-Surgical Complications: Issues like bleeding or fluid accumulation can lead to inflammation and capsule thickening, highlighting the importance of careful surgical technique and post-op management.
  • Implant Type: Modern silicone implants don’t increase contracture risk compared to saline, and cohesive gel silicone may even have a lower risk.
  • Surface Texture: Smooth implants may have a higher contracture rate than textured ones, but this remains debated. Dr. Rahban selects implants based on individual anatomy and goals.
  • Infection and Biofilm: Biofilm, a layer of bacteria on the implant surface, may cause inflammatory responses leading to capsular thickening. This often requires implant removal for resolution. Dr. Rahban employs strict protocols to minimize this risk.

The most effective approach to treating the condition is typically a complete open capsulectomy, where the surgeon meticulously removes the entire capsule of scar tissue to allow the implant to sit naturally and comfortably within the breast pocket.

Benefits of Capsular Contracture Correction

  • Restores a soft, natural breast feel and shape
  • Relieves discomfort, tightness, or pain
  • Improves symmetry, position, and implant contour
  • Reduces the risk of recurrence through expert technique
  • Addresses aesthetic and functional concerns simultaneously
  • Often improves confidence and peace of mind

Are You a Candidate?

You may be a candidate for capsular contracture treatment if:

  • Your breast(s) appear unnaturally firm, high, or misshapen
  • You experience pain, tightness, or distortion of the implant
  • You’ve been diagnosed with Grade III or IV contracture
  • You had your implants placed above the muscle
  • You’re seeking a more natural look and feel
  • You’ve experienced a previous failed revision attempt
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Cost of Treatment

Because capsular contracture surgery varies significantly in complexity, pricing is determined after a detailed consultation. Our team is happy to provide transparent pricing and discuss financing options during your visit.

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Your Consultation with Dr. Rahban

The best way to determine whether you’re a good candidate for capsular contracture treatment is to attend a personalized consultation with Dr. Rahban. During this crucial appointment, he will:

  • Evaluate the current condition of your breast and implants
  • Review your medical and surgical history
  • Help you understand your options—whether revision is the right path or not
  • Share before-and-after photos of similar cases
  • Walk you through every step of the process, including risks, outcomes, and expectations

What to Expect During Your Procedure

The gold standard for treating capsular contracture is a complete open capsulectomy—a highly meticulous surgical procedure in which the entire capsule of hardened scar tissue is carefully removed from around the implant.

This procedure does more than just cut or loosen scar tissue. A complete capsulectomy lowers the chance of problems returning and helps the implant fit well in a clean, natural space. Whenever possible, Dr. Rahban uses the original incision site to create fewer new scars.

While many surgeons choose to remove only part of the capsule to save time, Dr. Rahban carefully detaches the capsule from all nearby structures, including the chest wall and muscle. This thorough approach takes advanced techniques, time, and patience, but it is essential for achieving lasting results without complications.

If your original implants were placed above the muscle, Dr. Rahban often moves them beneath using a technique called submuscular conversion. This step is crucial for reducing the risk of capsular contracture but needs to be done carefully. 

The muscle must be precisely attached to the breast tissue to ensure a natural and balanced look.

To further reduce the risk of contamination and infection, two major contributors to contracture, Dr. Rahban also:

  • Removes and replaces any contaminated implants (biofilm cannot be eliminated with antibiotics alone)
  • Irrigates the pocket with a specialized antibiotic solution
  • Uses a Keller Funnel to insert the new implant without it touching the skin, gloves, or exposed tissue

"Dr. Rahban is truly gifted and talented. He was never pushy and always listened to what I had to say. Every time I went in for an appointment, he took his time examining me and answering each and every question I had. If you're considering any type of plastic surgery, I highly recommend visiting Dr. Rahban."—Gigi L.

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Recovery & Results

  • Downtime: Most patients require about 1–2 weeks off work.
  • Soreness & Swelling: Moderate for the first few days, decreasing with time.
  • Activity: Light walking encouraged; no heavy lifting or chest exercises for 4–6 weeks.
  • Final Results: Visible improvements are often immediate, and refinement continues over 3–6 months as swelling subsides and tissues settle.

Related or Alternative Procedures

Depending on your needs and goals, other procedures may be recommended, including:

  • Breast Implant Removal (Explantation) for patients choosing to go implant-free
  • Breast Lift (Mastopexy) to restore breast shape and position following implant removal
  • Breast Reduction when size and heaviness are contributing to discomfort
  • Breast Implant Exchange to replace implants with a different size, shape, or type
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Why Choose Dr. Rady Rahban?

With training from top institutions including UCLA, UCSD, and USC’s prestigious integrated plastic surgery residency, Dr. Rahban brings decades of elite expertise to every procedure he performs. His Beverly Hills practice is grounded in transparency, safety, and education, earning the trust of both patients and peers through thousands of successful surgeries and high-profile media contributions.

FAQs

What are the risks of surgery?

How do I prevent capsular contracture from happening again?

Can massage help prevent it?

Can capsular contracture affect both breasts at once?

Will I lose breast volume if the capsule is removed?

Is capsular contracture more common with older implants?

Will imaging (like a mammogram or MRI) detect capsular contracture?

Can capsular contracture come back after correction?

Can physical trauma cause capsular contracture?

How is capsular contracture different from implant rupture?

What are the risks of surgery?

As with any surgery, risks may include bleeding, infection, implant malposition, anesthesia complications, poor scarring, or recurrence of contracture. These risks are significantly reduced in the hands of an experienced specialist.

How do I prevent capsular contracture from happening again?

Dr. Rahban employs rigorous prevention protocols—from pre-op skin prep to implant handling with a Keller Funnel. Choosing an experienced, meticulous surgeon is the single most effective prevention strategy.

Can massage help prevent it?

Despite common belief, there's no clinical evidence supporting breast massage to prevent capsular contracture. In fact, relying on massage instead of meticulous surgical technique can delay proper treatment.

Can capsular contracture affect both breasts at once?

Yes, although it's more common for capsular contracture to develop in just one breast, it can affect both, either at the same time or at different points post-surgery. Each side may also progress at a different rate and severity, requiring individualized assessment and treatment.

Will I lose breast volume if the capsule is removed?

No—volume loss isn’t caused by removing the capsule itself. However, if the capsule was distorting the breast shape, correcting it may slightly alter your appearance. If desired, Dr. Rahban can adjust implant size or placement during surgery to restore or enhance fullness and symmetry.

Is capsular contracture more common with older implants?

It can be. As implants age, the chance of issues like rupture or biofilm-related inflammation increases. Many patients who develop contracture years after surgery are experiencing complications related to aging implants. This is why regular monitoring is essential—even if everything feels fine.

Will imaging (like a mammogram or MRI) detect capsular contracture?

Not reliably. While some imaging may show abnormalities, capsular contracture is usually diagnosed through a physical examination. Dr. Rahban assesses firmness, position, symmetry, and patient-reported symptoms to determine the severity and create a treatment plan.

Can capsular contracture come back after correction?

Unfortunately, yes—but when the entire capsule is removed correctly, the implants are replaced, and preventive protocols are followed, recurrence is much less likely. Dr. Rahban’s comprehensive approach dramatically reduces repeat complications compared to more conservative or shortcut procedures.

Can physical trauma cause capsular contracture?

Yes. Trauma to the chest, such as a car accident, a fall, or aggressive compression, can disrupt the implant pocket or initiate inflammation, potentially leading to contracture. Always inform your surgeon if you’ve experienced any injury post-augmentation.

How is capsular contracture different from implant rupture?

Capsular contracture involves tightening of scar tissue around the implant, whereas implant rupture is a structural failure of the implant itself. Though they’re different issues, one can lead to or reveal the other, and both require prompt evaluation by an experienced surgeon like Dr. Rahban.

Schedule A Consultation

When Dr. Rahban does a consultation with a prospective patient, he wants it to be two things above all others: thorough and honest. He will find out from you just what you want from cosmetic surgery. And he will tell you honestly if you can get the result you want, and how he can best help you do so.

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Schedule a Consultation

When Dr. Rahban does a consultation with a prospective patient, he wants it to be two things above all others: thorough and honest. He will find out from you just what you want from cosmetic surgery. And he will tell you honestly if you can get the result you want, and how he can best help you do so.

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