What is Capsular Contracture?
When you undergo a breast augmentation, your body responds in a perfectly natural way by forming a thin “capsule” of tissue around the implant. This capsule is made of collagen, a protein your body uses to heal and protect itself. Normally, it’s soft, flexible, and very thin, simply keeping the implant in place.
In some women, however, the capsule becomes thicker, harder, and less flexible. Instead of simply surrounding the implant, it starts squeezing it. That’s when capsular contracture occurs. The tightening can make your breasts feel unusually firm, look rounder or misshapen, or even sit in a higher or more unnatural position. In more severe cases, women may experience chronic pain or significant distortion that makes clothing uncomfortable or affects self-esteem. Capsular contracture can occur with either saline implants or silicone implants, and it doesn’t necessarily mean anything went “wrong” during your initial surgery. Factors such as minor bleeding, infection, dental work, or even normal variations in healing can trigger this excessive scar response. Sometimes it develops gradually, years after a previous surgery, making it feel like a sudden change in an otherwise stable result.