Capsulectomy, Implant Exchange, and Placement of Acellular Dermal Matrix Is Effective in Treating Capsular Contracture in Breast Augmentation Patients

BACKGROUND: Capsular contracture is a common complication of breast augmentation surgery and many techniques to prevent and treat it have been suggested with inconsistent or variably effective results. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper was to describe a protocol for treating established capsular contracture after breast augmentation with a low recurrence rate. METHODS: From January 2009 to December 2012, 79 previous bilateral breast augmentation patients presented for treatment of established capsular contracture. There were 135 breasts with capsular contracture: 56 were bilateral and 23 were unilateral. Ten patients opted for no treatment; 2 patients opted for implant removal. Twenty-four were treated with the ICES (implant exchange, capsulectomy, and possible exchange of site) protocol and 43 were treated with the SPICES (Strattice placement in the reconstructive position, implant exchange, capsulectomy, and possible exchange of site) protocol. RESULTS: The 24 patients treated with the ICES protocol had a recurrent capsular contracture rate of 15%. The 43 patients treated with the SPICES protocol had a 2.7% recurrent capsular contracture incidence and an 2.7% complication rate. CONCLUSIONS: Capsular contracture after breast augmentation, whether primary or recurrent, can be successfully treated with the SPICES protocol.