capsular contracture

noun

: contracture involving a capsule or capsule-shaped structure

specifically : shrinking and tightening of the mass of scar tissue around a breast implant that occurs especially with some silicone implants and may result in pain and in unnatural firmness and distortion of the breast

Word History

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

capsular contracture

noun

: contracture involving a capsule or capsule-shaped structure

It is important, however, not to ignore the presence of osteophytes or capsular contractures since simply removing the loose bodies does not help patients with these diagnoses.

—Champ L. Baker, Jr. and Grant L. Jones, The American Journal of Sports Medicine

specifically : shrinking and tightening of the mass of scar tissue around a breast implant that occurs especially with some silicone implants and may result in pain and in unnatural firmness and distortion of the breast

As we now know, within two to four years of receiving a silicone implant, nearly 70 percent of patients suffer capsular contracture, a hardening of the scar tissue around the implant, which squeezes the implant into a hard disk.

—Ms.