Greenwald Plastic Surgery

The Dr. Greenwald Advantage

• An experienced plastic surgeon who has performed thousands of breast surgeries and is known for achieving natural results
• Served as a clinical investigator for cohesive silicone gel implants
• Thousands of before and after photos for your review
• Frequently sought after expert for revision breast surgery
• Named a TOP DOCTOR in New York every year since 2012
• Operates in a state-of-the-art surgical center that prides itself on patient safety

Capsular Contracture Treatment in Westchester County & NYC

Serving Patients in Putnam county, White Plains, Yonkers, New Rochelle, & Mount Vernon

• Treatment of Capsular Contracture
• What is capsular contracture?
• What can be done to reduce the risk of capsular contracture?
• What can be done to treat capsular contracture?

Treatment of Capsular Contracture

Capsular contracture (CC) is the most common complication following breast augmentation surgery. CC is the most common reason New York City patients with breast implants request additional surgery. By far, the best treatment for capsular contracture is its prevention; however, to date, there are methods to reduce but not eradicate its occurrence. Plastic surgeons do not currently know all of the causes of capsular contracture. Dr. Greenwald utilizes the latest techniques to try to keep the incidence of capsular contracture to a minimum for his patients (< 2%). Dr. Greenwald is up to date with the latest techniques in breast augmentation and also in the treatment of capsular contracture.

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What is capsular contracture?

Capsular contracture is a progressive hardening of the breast after breast implant surgery. It often has a slow onset (slow, progressive hardening) and can occur at any time. It can occur in one or both breasts. CC is typically graded or scored based on severity. The most commonly used grading system was developed by an Orlando plastic surgeon several decades ago.

Grade I	Breast is soft and appears natural
Grade II	Breast is slightly firm and appears natural
Grade III	Breast is firm and visibly abnormal
Grade IV	Grade IIII with pain

While we do not know the cause of capsular contracture, most of the current data (and recommendations) to reduce the risk of CC point to an infectious etiology.

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What can be done to reduce the risk of capsular contracture?

The literature regarding capsular contracture is confusing and ambiguous. The lack of concrete data and recommendations speaks to our lack of knowledge of the actual etiology of capsular contracture. Most publications seem to support the following:

1. Submuscular positioning of implants reduces the rate of CC.
2. Meticulous surgical technique and minimizing bleeding during and after surgery reduces the rate of capsular contracture. Drains are never used and pinpoint cautery is used to control bleeding.
3. Antimicrobial irrigation during surgery may reduce the rate of CC. This likely helps sterilize the surgical pocket the implant will be inserted into.
4. Use of an implant insertion device such as the Keller Funnel® may reduce the rate of CC – utilization of a “no-touch” technique. This reduces possible surface contamination of the implant by allowing rapid insertion of the implant with minimal trauma and avoiding contact of the implant with the patient’s skin, surgical drapes or instruments.
5. Minimize postoperative activity. You will likely feel good within days of your surgery but it is important that you rest and take it easy. You will be allowed to return to the gym 4 weeks after surgery. Dr. Greenwald believes that return to vigorous activity before the capsule has properly healed may result in small tears in the healing capsule which may lead to CC.
6. Postoperative Implant Massage may or may not help reduce the risk of capsular contracture for implants in a submuscular position. With that being said, Dr. Greenwald has all his patients massage their implants beginning one week after surgery. Though it may not help prevent CC, it may often help a patient identify an early CC which may be treated medically (see below).

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What can be done to treat capsular contracture?

First and foremost, the best treatment of CC is to minimize its occurrence as outlined above.

For an early CC (a contracture often noted by the patient while massaging her breast implants), several medications may be useful to help soften the breast. Leukotriene inhibitors such as Singulair and Accolate have been of benefit especially when paired with a low-dose antibiotic such as doxycycline. Several studies have shown these to be of benefit in treating and preventing CC. I often give my own patients with Grade II contractures a trial of these medications before opting for surgery.

For a Grade III or IV CC or a Grade II that is bothersome to the patient and unresponsive to medical management, surgery is the best option. For patients with subglandular implants, a change to a submuscular position and removal of the subglandular capsule is the treatment. This “pocket change” is often very successful. We often recommend a course of Singulair and an oral antibiotic for 3 months as well. Aggressive massage is also started early.

For New York City patients with capsular contracture and submuscular implants, a capsulectomy is performed creating a new submuscular pocket. The capsule is always sent to pathology for analysis and a small portion of the capsule is checked for bacterial infection to customize your antibiotic treatment after surgery. The new pocket is irrigated with pressure irrigation to remove any bacteria that may be hiding. A new implant is always placed using a no-touch technique with a Keller Funnel. Typically, patients will be placed on 4 weeks of antibiotics depending on laboratory results and a leukotriene inhibitor/

It is important to note that capsular contracture may come back after surgery in approximately 30% of cases despite taking the proper measures before and after surgery. Use of an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) such as Strattice reduces the recurrence rate to approximately 5%. In patients seeing Dr. Greenwald for opinions regarding recurrent CC, he prefers to use Strattice in these cases. Strattice and other ADMs seem to stop the scarring of capsular contracture wherever the Strattice is placed. If the scar tissue does not have the ability to encircle the implant, the implant remains soft and supple!

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Dr. Greenwald is happy to be able to provide his expertise on capsular contracture to patients in NYC, Westchester County and Fairfield County, including Greenwich and Stamford, CT. To learn more about capsular contracture, please schedule a consultation by calling (914) 421-0113 today.