Episode Details

Months or years after surgery, one side can suddenly feel firmer than the other, and most women assume they did something wrong.Dr. James Koehler and Dr. Vincent Gardner walk through what a mild case actually feels like, how it's graded on the Baker scale, and why some cases never get noticed until something changes years later.The leading theory is a "slime layer" of bacteria that settles on the implant and triggers chronic inflammation, which is part of why implants are more often placed under the muscle today.Treatment carries its own risk of recurrence, so Dr. Koehler explains how an acellular dermal matrix like Strattice dramatically improves the odds of it not coming back — plus what rupture, rippling and bottoming out look like, and why the "replace your implants every 10 years" rule isn't quite true.Read more about capsular contracture treatment: easternshoreplasticsurgery.com/breast/breast-implant-revision/capsular-contracture-revision

Questions answered by this episode:

1. What does capsular contracture feel like when it's just starting?
2. How much firmness is normal after breast augmentation?
3. What causes capsular contracture?
4. What is the "slime layer" theory of capsular contracture?
5. What are the Baker grades of capsular contracture?
6. When should capsular contracture be treated?
7. Does a capsulectomy fix capsular contracture for good?
8. What is Strattice and how does it help prevent recurrence?
9. How can you tell if a silicone implant has ruptured?
10. Do breast implants really need to be replaced every 10 years?

Alabama the Beautiful is the cosmetic surgery podcast co-hosted by Dr. James Koehler and Dr. Vincent Gardner, surgeons with over 2 decades of expertise in cosmetic surgery and their trusty co-host Kirstin, your best friend, confidante, and the snarky yet loveable "swiss army knife" of Eastern Shore Cosmetic Surgery.

Have a question for Dr. Koehler, Dr. Gardner or Kirstin? Record your voicemail at alabamathebeautifulpodcast.com and we'll answer it on the podcast.

Eastern Shore Cosmetic Surgery is located off Highway 98 at 7541 Cipriano Ct in Fairhope, Alabama. To learn more about the practice or ask a question, go to easternshoreplasticsurgery.com

Follow the team on Instagram @easternshorecosmeticsurgery

Watch Dr. Koehler, Dr. Gardner & Kirstin on YouTube @JamesKoehlerMD

Alabama The Beautiful is a production of The Axis: theaxis.io

Theme music: Never Need a Reason, Guy Trevino and Friends