We are leaders in cosmetic surgery, facial aesthetics, and medically supervised weight loss, serving the entire San Francisco Bay area. Whether you live in the Bay Area or are coming in from out of town, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have on your path to your new self. Book your cosmetic surgery intro call or Med Spa consultation today and take the first step towards realizing the look you’ve always wanted for yourself.
Putting Back the Same Implant After Capsulectomy?
In my practice, we believe that a major cause of capsular contracture (hard or firm breast implants) comes from subclinical bacterial contamination. To reduce the possibility of this happening again, we would recommend the implants being replaced (the biofilm on the old implants may be impossible to sterilize). That is not to say that reusing the old implant is improper, but in our experience, it may increase the possibility of recurrent capsular contracture. Mixing the implants (as long as they are both silicone for consistent feel) should be ok. Be sure to remember that the sides may feel different even if the same implant is used because of the additional surgery on the breast with the capsular contracture. Depending on the extent of the capsulectomy, your old implant may not be enough to give you symmetry. Be sure to discuss all these issues with your surgeon before your surgery.
Clinical Context
A biofilm is a thin layer of bacteria that clings to an implant's surface and hides from antibiotics and the immune system. Even without infection symptoms, this low-grade presence can trigger the ongoing inflammation that leads to capsular contracture. Because biofilm cannot be reliably removed by cleaning or antibiotics alone, many surgeons prefer a new implant during revision surgery, along with careful surgical technique to reduce the chance of contamination recurring.
