She has experienced bilateral contracture of the scar capsule around her implants, causing them to feel hard and displacing the implants too high on her chest. The result looks and feels very unattractive.

This patient presents several interesting issues.Textured implants were designed to counteract the tendency in some patients for contracture of the capsules around the implants, producing the distortion and firmess she demonstrated. In my experience, I have not seen these implants to be effective in accomplishing this.

In the after photos, she has had the implants removed and the scar tissue has been released in a procedure called a capsulotomy. Her new implants are Mentor round, smooth, moderate profile implants with a volume of 475 cc. She is shown 6 months after surgery with very soft, natural feeling breasts. Bra size has gone from a small C cup to a full C/D cup.

Textured implants are more prone to show visible rippling and to leak than smooth saline implants. This patients also heals with thickened, very pink reactive scars, called hypertrophic scars. These can take a year or more to settle down. Scar massage and the use of silicone gel ointment can speed up the process of softening and flattening.