Reop for capsular contracture

Thought I’d write up my experience as I haven’t seen many threads on this, and hoped it might help others in a similar position!
I am almost 5 years post op, and went from an empty 34B to a 34F with natrelle inspira extra high profile 400cc implants. As soon as I came round from the anaesthetic I was in a lot of pain, very sick and my left side was excruciating. The implants in all honesty were a little too big in hindsight and so all the probs I had I put down to that. The left implant always sat higher and the incision was on my chest wall and not under the breast like my other one. My recovery was pretty slow and painful and I just assumed this was all normal. My checkups were fine and I got the all clear.
A few months ago I started to get pains in my left breast, nothing of major note but the breast was noticeably harder especially at the top so I decided to give MYA a call. They got me an appointment straight away and could not have been more helpful. I went from seeing a nurse straight to being booked in to see a surgeon – Mr Giannitrapani – who said I had definitely got CC and signed off on a reop. As I was within my insured period I was covered by the aftercare policy. I got the op within 3 months of my initial consultation and had the capsulectomy and BA yesterday.
I was worried about having to go bigger – due to the pockets having stretched over time I couldn’t go smaller – but the surgeon chose new implants – Mentor 425cc high profile cohesive 2 – which apparently have a lower rate of cc than my natrelle implants (ironically I paid more for them as they had a lower rate of cc than what MYA used at the time).
The staff at Fitzroy were amazing, my nurse was wonderful and the anaesthestist came to see me and marked me down for a smaller mouth tube (last time my throat was cut to ribbons) and put me down for an anti sickness drug during the surgery. When I came round I felt very groggy (my op took an hour and I was out for 90 mins due to the longer op) but what a difference compared to Highgate! I was in a lot of pain initially but it died down very quickly, I was expecting a lot of pain on the left due to the removal of scar tissue but it felt OK. Mr Giannitrapani came to see me before I was discharged, and said I actually had 2 haemotomas (blood clots) which had triggered the CC, and the scar tissue had formed around them. That also meant that the chances of me red oolong it again was lost as I actually just developed it randomly and there had been a reason. I don’t know when or how the clots got there but thank god I went to see MYA and got the reop. I never realised how bad the left implant was until I took my before picture yesterday morning. If I’d left it a few more months I wouldn’t have been covered. I wish I’d listened to my instincts and done something about this ages ago, I used to take post op pics all the time but got out of the habit of doing so – my picture yesterday horrified me (I have tried to upload it – you can see a huge difference between the 2! MYA have been amazing and I’ve had a much more positive experience this time round. I’m struggling with sleeping upright and the lack of real pain like last time makes it too easy to move about so I’m trying to be mindful of keeping my arms down so I don’t split the stitches but after dreading what it would be like second time round I am so far happy with things!

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thanks for sharing your experience. Even as a non mya patient it’s reassuring to read. Mya have been great from what I’ve read and you were lucky to get it sorted before your insured period ran out. Happy healing with the new set of boobs. X

Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been getting pain in my righ boob for a while now and I think mine have always been hard (had my op 2 yrs ago). I have already seen the nurse who thinks its cc in both and am due to see Dr Marcellino 15/9. I’m really scared now and think I have left this far too long. I don’t have any holiday left from work, so not sure how I can fit in a Reop? Hope all goes well post your 2nd op x

Hi @princess76 thanks so much for sharing your story!! I don’t think people talk about capsular contracture enough and I can understand why we dont because at the time of your op you’re so excited you don’t even worry about CC that much due to the low percentage of it happening.

I had exactly the same situation I had a BA in 2013 400cc Nautrelle inspire’s like you I went more expensive and chose the ‘best’ because of the low CC rate! I had my implants taken out in 2014 and have been without for 2 years. My breasts have healed really well and I am looking to have a re-op. I didn’t go with MYA last time but I would be SO interested to hear how you get on with the mentor implants? Could I please add you?

I hope you are feeling better soon xxxx

Thank you for sharing your story. It’s important that people share both the positive and negative bits associated with BA. I’ve just read my paperwork from MYA and sadly they only offer 3 years cover for CC now, which is a shame, but I’ll make sure to be vigilant if something isn’t quiet right post op.
All the best with your recovery!! X

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