Although silicone implant surgery in the breasts is considered safe and widely performed in Brazil and worldwide, such as any procedure, it is subject to complications.
Among them are capsular contracture and rippling. Understand what these complications are, how to prevent them and what to do if they occur.
What are capsular contracture and rippling?
After placing the silicone, the body naturally forms a capsule of scarf around you to isolate it. In some people, however, this protective cover can become thick and hardened than the pattern, causing pain, even months or even years after implantation. This is the capsular contracture.
“It is more common in breasts, but it can occur in any region that receives the implant, such as buttocks, calves and face,” says plastic surgeon Josué Montedonio, a full member of the Brazilian Society of Plastic Surgery, the International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgery.
Rippling, in turn, occurs when they form Visible or palpable ripples on the skin after placing the prosthesis. This effect usually occurs when the skin does not fully cover the implant, leaving noticeable wrinkles, especially when the patient moves or leans.
Risk factors for complications
According to Montedonio, both contracture and rippling are not considered. “Capsular contracture, for example, happens in about 5 to 15% of cases,” says the doctor.
The occurrence of these complications, in this sense, depends on some factors. In the case of contracture, the expert the following aspects that favor their development:
- Infections that do not cause symptoms, but may lead to an inflammatory reaction;
- accumulation of liquid or blood around the prosthesis stimulate the formation of a thicker capsule;
- implant material and its position (plain or placed above the muscle favor the condition);
- Genetic trend, as some people form more naturally hardened scars.
Rippling, on the other hand, is related to cases of lean patient who has little breast volume or when the prosthesis is applied in front of the mammary muscles.
Is correction possible?
Yes. Depending on the degree of contracture, correction can be done using medicines and massage on site so that stiffness decreases. However, in more severe cases, prosthesis or even yours may be required, in addition to the removal of the hardened capsule.
Surgical interventions can also be performed in cases of rippling, with the replacement with a more suitable implant to the dimensions of the person’s body. Another option is to position the prosthesis on a submuscular plane to have a muscles cover around it and prevent the wavy on the skin.
There is also the possibility of fat grafts in the breast to increase the thickness of the fabric, creating an additional coverage on the implant.
How to avoid silicone complications
MATEDONIO recommends some measures to reduce the risk of capsular contracture and rippling:
- Choose the size of the prosthesis that is suitable for the dimensions of the body to avoid excessive tension in the tissues;
- opt for the submuscular plane, as it reduces prosthesis contact with the mammary gland;
- Avoid and infections;
- Choose cohesive silicone gel prostheses (firmer and less likely to form wrinkles).
