Name: Capsular Contracture
Brand: Marina Plastic Surgery

Rediscover Comfort and Confidence

Capsular contracture is one of the most common complications following breast augmentation or reconstruction. Scar tissue around a breast implant can tighten, making the breast feel firm, look distorted, or even become painful. At Marina Plastic Surgery in Los Angeles, our expert surgical team specializes in treating capsular contracture using proven methods. Whether you're seeking relief after a previous breast surgery or want to feel like yourself again, our goal is to restore comfort, shape, and peace of mind.

What is Capsular Contracture?

When your body heals after a breast augmentation or reconstruction, it naturally forms a layer of scar tissue around the implant, called a capsule. Normally, this tissue stays soft. But sometimes it tightens and squeezes the implant, which is what causes capsular contracture.

This can lead to:

Firm or hard breasts
Distorted breast shape
Pain or tightness in the chest
Implants sitting too high or looking uneven

Capsular contracture can happen with both saline and silicone implants and may occur months or even years after the initial operation. While it's not dangerous, it can be physically and emotionally uncomfortable, especially when you've been happy with your results until now.

How is Capsular Contracture treated?

At Marina Plastic Surgery, we treat capsular contracture through two trusted surgical procedures:

Capsulotomy

This procedure releases or scores the scar tissue without removing it entirely. It's often used in earlier-stage contracture, where firmness is mild to moderate and the implant is still in good condition. By loosening the capsule, we can help the implant sit better and feel softer without needing to remove or replace it.

Capsulectomy

In more advanced cases, or when there's a rupture, pain, or implant shift, we recommend a capsulectomy. This involves removing all or part of the capsule and usually the implant as well. You may choose to replace the implant with a new one or go without implants moving forward. Capsulectomy is often the best long-term solution when scar tissue is thick or when previous surgeries didn't resolve the issue.

Both procedures are done with precision to protect your breast tissue and reduce the risk of future capsular contracture.

Los Angeles breast lift model with brown hair

Capsular Contracture Treatment Benefits

Fixing capsular contracture through capsulotomy or capsulectomy in Los Angeles offers more than just cosmetic improvements—it enhances your life. Here's how:

Softer, More Natural-Feeling Breasts – By releasing or removing the hardened scar tissue capsule, your breast feels less firm and more like your natural breast tissue.
Balanced and Symmetrical Breast Shape – Correcting the capsule restores even breast shape and implant placement, often improving issues from wayward breast implant positioning.
Pain Relief and Chest Comfort – Treating the underlying fibrous capsule takes pressure off your chest muscle and surrounding breast tissue, easing tightness.
Option to Keep or Replace Your Implant – Capsulotomy lets you keep your existing silicone implants, while capsulectomy opens the option for breast implant replacement.
Lowered Risk of Future Contracture – With modern surgical techniques and proper antibiotic use, we focus on preventing capsular contracture from coming back.
Enhanced Support Using Internal Bra or Acellular Dermal Matrix – Especially after capsulectomy, we may reinforce the breast pocket to help your new implant settle properly.
Quick Recovery With Non-Invasive Options – Capsulotomy under local anesthesia often has shorter downtime compared to full implant removal or surgical intervention.

Capsular Contracture Treatment Candidates

You may be a good candidate for treatment if you:

Feel Breast Firmness or See Shape Distortion – These are common signs that scar tissue has formed too tightly around the implant.
Experience Breast Pain or Discomfort – If scar tissue capsule is squeezing or pulling on breast tissue or chest muscle, surgery can ease that.
Have Been Diagnosed With Grade I–IV Contracture – Whether you're in early stage or advanced cases of developing capsular contracture, there's a surgical path.
Want to Keep, Replace, or Permanently Remove Implants – We can perform breast implant removal, implant removal with replacement, or just capsule removal.

You're likely not a candidate right now if:

You Have Active Infection or Bacterial Contamination – Surgery with active infection isn't safe, so we'll treat infection first to reduce the risk of recurrence.
You Lack Medical Clearance for Anesthesia – Our board-certified expert surgical team prioritizes patient safety. Patients need clearance from a reconstructive surgeon or primary doctor.
You're Pregnant, Nursing, or Recovering from Breast Reconstruction Surgery – We wait until after breast reconstruction is fully healed to proceed with capsular contracture surgery.

Our team will help you decide if a capsulotomy or capsulectomy is a good fit during your consultation.

Consultation and Preparation

Your first step is a one-on-one visit, where we'll talk through your symptoms, go over your surgical history, and review imaging or implant records if you have them. We'll also examine your breast tissue to determine the severity of the contracture and the best surgical plan.

Here's how your consult and prep for treatment will unfold:

In-Depth Review of Your Surgical History – We'll talk about your breast augmentation surgery or breast reconstruction, implant placement, implant size, and when capsular contracture occurred.
Physical Exam and Imaging as Needed – This helps confirm the grade of contracture—whether it's Grade I firmness or Grade IV displacement and hardened scar tissue.
Discussion of Treatment Options – We'll explain the difference between capsulotomy and capsulectomy, the risk of implant rupture, and whether you want a new implant.
Pre-Surgical Instructions – These include stopping certain medications, avoiding blood thinners, scheduling labs, and arranging your recovery with a surgical bra and support.
Clear Timeline for Healing Process – We'll explain healing timelines for both procedures, including managing excess fluid, scar tissue forms, and tissue capsule recovery.

This isn't just about fixing a complication—it's about making sure you feel heard, cared for, and completely confident in your care.

Treating Capsular Contracture

Surgical treatment for capsular contracture is handled with care and precision at Marina Plastic Surgery, depending on whether you're having a capsulotomy or a capsulectomy.

If you're a candidate for capsulotomy, the procedure is usually done under local anesthesia with sedation. This technique is ideal for milder cases where the scar tissue isn't too thick or calcified. During the surgery, your surgeon will carefully access the breast pocket and make small incisions in the scar tissue capsule to release tension. The implant stays in place, and there's no need to remove it unless there's a specific issue like implant rupture or visible implant distortion. Because the capsule isn't removed, the recovery tends to be faster, with less swelling and a shorter downtime overall.

For more severe cases, a capsulectomy is typically the better option. This procedure is done under general anesthesia, as it's more involved and requires more time. The procedure begins by reopening the previous incision (whenever possible) to avoid new scarring. Then, he removes part or all of the scar tissue capsule—what we call a total or partial capsulectomy. If you're opting for breast implant removal, the implant is taken out at this time. If you're planning on breast implant replacement, a new implant may be inserted into the same or a newly created breast pocket.

Both procedures are outpatient, and most patients go home the same day with a clear recovery plan in place.

Results, Recovery, and Aftercare

Here's the typical recovery path and what to expect with either procedure:

Days 1–3: Mild soreness and swelling in breast tissue; take prescribed pain meds, wear a surgical bra, and rest.
Week 1: Gentle return to light routines; your surgeon removes dressings and checks the incision for proper capsule formation.
Weeks 2–4: Continue wearing the surgical bra, skip chest workouts or heavy lifting, and manage any excess fluid accumulation.
Weeks 6–8: Swelling fades, breast shape settles into its final form, and most patients return to full activity.
Long-Term Care: Use scar prevention cream or silicone sheets for incision care, attend follow-ups, and consider light massage to keep the capsule soft.

After treatment, most patients say they feel physically better, emotionally relieved, and confident in their cosmetic results.

How much does it cost to treat Capsular Contracture?

Here's what typically goes into the cost of capsular contracture correction:

Surgeon's fee
Facility and anesthesia costs for your surgical procedure
Implant or implant removal fees, if you're replacing or removing breast implants
Support materials, like acellular dermal matrix or internal bra, when needed
Post-op care, including surgical bra, follow-up visits, and scar tissue management

No two cases are the same—prices vary whether you need capsulotomy, capsulectomy, or implant replacement. During your consultation, Marina Plastic Surgery will provide an itemized estimate. Financing is available to make the best capsular contracture treatment more accessible.

Why Marina Plastic Surgery?

Marina Plastic Surgery is known for its experience with complex breast procedures, including capsular contracture correction. Our expert surgical team brings a high level of skill and attention to each case, using advanced techniques and a personalized approach to help you feel confident in your results. With decades of combined experience in plastic and reconstructive surgery, our team knows how to treat capsular contracture effectively and with care.

We follow the Patients for Life® philosophy, focusing not just on the procedure but on your long-term results and well-being. From consultation to recovery, we're here to guide you with clear communication, trusted surgical techniques, and a commitment to comfort, safety, and lasting outcomes.

Schedule Your Los Angeles Capsular Contracture Consultation at Marina Plastic Surgery Today

If you're dealing with discomfort or notice that your breast implant is feeling off, don't wait. Contact Marina Plastic Surgery in Beverly Hills today for a personalized evaluation. We will help you choose the best surgical solution—capsulotomy or capsulectomy—for your goals, health, and peace of mind.

Capsular Contracture Frequently Asked Questions

Is Capsular Contracture common?

Capsular contracture is one of the more common complications that can happen after breast augmentation or breast implant reconstruction. However, when performed with meticulous surgical technique, thoughtful implant placement, and proper post-operative care, the risk can be significantly reduced.

Can Capsular Contracture resolve itself?

Early stages may soften, but most cases need a surgical procedure to properly correct the hardened tissue.

Can you massage Capsular Contracture away?

Massaging the tissue capsule won't remove hardened scar tissue once it's thickened; only surgery can correct it.

What does it mean to be high risk for Capsular Contracture?

Risk factors include bacterial contamination, smoking, unstable implant placement, textured implants, or a history of bacterial contamination.

Will my insurance cover Capsular Contracture?

We do not accept insurance at Marina Plastic Surgery. While some insurance plans may provide partial coverage for medically necessary procedures like implant rupture or pain caused by capsular contracture, our practice operates on a self-pay basis. We’re happy to provide a detailed breakdown of your treatment plan and costs during your consultation.

Capsular Contracture IN LOS ANGELES, CA