Constriction of the capsule around breast prostheses.

The capsule formed around an implant contracts and tends to become spherical, a tendency limited by the consistency of the implant. Another factor in this is the size of the implantation pocket. If the pocket fits too tightly, spherical development occurs earlier and becomes more marked. A "dead space" between the tissues and the implant, on the other hand, leads to proliferation in the wall of the pocket and hence a thickened capsule.The spherical form of the breast and its firmness need not necessarily be due to fibrotic thickening of the capsule, and the diagnosis of "constrictive fibrosis" does not always apply. The same symptoms may result from contraction of a thin capsule when the implantation pocket was made too small.