Restore comfort and achieve more natural-looking results with expert treatment for capsular contracture in Nashville. This condition can occur after breast augmentation or reconstruction when scar tissue tightens around your implant. Dr. Kristina O’Shaughnessy offers compassionate, advanced care to correct contracture and help you feel like yourself again.
Restore Softness and Natural Breast Contours
Capsular contracture is a complication that can occur after breast implant surgery, where the body forms excessive scar tissue around the implant. While some scar formation is normal, this capsule can become unusually firm or tight, causing discomfort, breast distortion, or asymmetry. The condition may develop gradually, ranging from mild firmness to visible deformity. Treatment for capsular contracture may involve capsulectomy (removal of scar tissue), implant exchange, or revision techniques to restore softness and shape.
What Are the Symptoms of Capsular Contracture?
- Noticeable hardening of one or both breasts
- Increased firmness around the implant
- Breast asymmetry or shape distortion
- Visible implant displacement or elevation
- Discomfort or tightness in the chest
- Pain that may worsen over time
- Decreased mobility or softness in the breast
What Is the Recovery Process After Capsulectomy?
After your capsulectomy, you can expect moderate swelling, bruising, and chest discomfort for the first several days. Most patients return to non-strenuous activities within one to two weeks, but full recovery may take several weeks, depending on the extent of surgery and whether mesh or ADM was used. You’ll wear a surgical bra to support healing and should avoid lifting, pushing, or upper-body exercises during this phase. Pain is usually well-managed with medications.
To promote smooth healing and minimize the risk of complications:
- Wear your post-surgical bra exactly as instructed
- Take all prescribed medications, including antibiotics, on schedule
- Sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated
- Avoid raising your arms above shoulder level for 10-14 days
- Refrain from lifting heavy objects or intense physical activity
- Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments with Dr. O’Shaughnessy
- Notify the office if you experience worsening pain or swelling
What Are the Treatments for Capsular Contracture?
Non-Surgical Management
In early or mild cases of capsular contracture, non-surgical options may provide some relief. These can include massage, ultrasound therapy, or medications such as leukotriene inhibitors. However, these approaches are typically supportive rather than curative and are not effective for more advanced contracture. Dr. O’Shaughnessy will evaluate whether conservative care is appropriate for your situation or if surgical treatment is recommended.
Capsulectomy and Implant Replacement
This is the most common and effective treatment for moderate to severe capsular contracture in Nashville. During a capsulectomy, Dr. O’Shaughnessy surgically removes the scar tissue (capsule) around the implant and often replaces the implant itself. This technique relieves tightness, restores natural softness, and addresses issues related to implant position or shape. A complete capsulectomy may be necessary if the capsule is calcified or causing pain.
Conversion to Autologous Reconstruction
For patients who no longer wish to have implants or have experienced repeated contracture, converting to autologous breast reconstruction may be the best solution. This approach uses the patient’s own tissue, often from the abdomen or another donor site, to rebuild the breast without foreign materials. Dr. O’Shaughnessy specializes in implant-based and autologous techniques and offers personalized care tailored to your goals.
What Happens During Capsulectomy & Implant Replacement Surgery?
Dr. O’Shaughnessy begins your procedure by reopening the original incision, usually in the inframammary fold or around the areola, to minimize scarring. She performs a capsulectomy, removing the fibrous capsule that has formed tightly around the implant. In many cases, she performs a total capsulectomy, removing the entire capsule intact. The implant is removed, and the pocket is carefully inspected and irrigated with an antibiotic solution to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination and recurrence.
Next, Dr. O’Shaughnessy creates a clean space for a new implant. Depending on your anatomy and goals, she may adjust the implant plane (submuscular or prepectoral) and use a supportive mesh or acellular dermal matrix (ADM) to reinforce the pocket and reduce the risk of future contracture. She then places the new implant, checks symmetry, and closes the incisions with layered, dissolvable sutures.
What Are the Expected Results From Capsulectomy?
You’ll begin noticing an improvement in breast softness and shape within the first few weeks after surgery. The final results are visible around three months, once tissues have settled and scars have matured. The outcome is long-lasting, especially when supported by techniques such as mesh reinforcement or implant plane adjustment. While no procedure can guarantee permanent results, following Dr. O’Shaughnessy’s aftercare instructions will help reduce the risk of recurrence and support a stable, natural-looking outcome over time.
Schedule Your Consultation With Dr. O’Shaughnessy
Dr. Kristina O’Shaughnessy is a board-certified plastic surgeon with 17 years of experience in complex breast surgery, including revision procedures for capsular contracture. She offers a woman’s perspective, combining advanced surgical expertise with empathy and attention to your goals. Her on-site surgery center in Franklin, TN, ensures privacy and continuity of care from consultation through recovery. If you’re experiencing changes in your breast implants, schedule a personalized consultation in Nashville for capsular contracture to explore your options today.
