Spherical contracture of fibrous capsules around breast implants. Prevention and treatment.

A follow-up of 82 patients who had had augumentation mammaplasties is reported. Though the number of patients having had each form of ancillary treatment is small, we believe that intraoperative instillation of triamcinolone and postoperative "expansion exercises" are of value in decreasing the incidence of capsular contracture around the implants. When such spherical contracture does occur, the capsule can usually be ruptured simply and quickly by external pressure with the surgeon's hands. This is usually done as an office procedure, without anesthesia. The results are so beneficial that we believe this should be done on many patients. In some it may need to be done repeatedly.