The authors investigated the association between the occurrence of capsular
contracture and implant and patient characteristics. All women with
breast implants from 1977 to 1997 were identified from the files of two private plastic surgery clinics in Denmark. Information on implant and patient characteristics,
surgical procedure, and complications was obtained through medical records and self-administered questionnaires. Of 754 women (1,572 implants), average age at implantation was 32 years. Implant types were
silicone double lumen, textured, 31.2%;
silicone single lumen, textured, 27.8%;
silicone single lumen, smooth, 24.5%;
silicone double lumen, smooth, 0.8%; and other or missing, 15.7%. Placement was submuscular for more than 90% of implants. Capsular
contracture occurred in 7.9% of implanted breasts, on an average of 621 days postoperatively, with 51.6% being bilateral. Overall, 66.1% of capsular
contractures were recorded within the first 12 months postoperatively, and 79.0% were recorded within 24 months. Double-lumen implants were associated with a significantly (p < 0.01) reduced occurrence of capsular
contracture. In summary, capsular
contracture typically occurs within the first 2 years of implantation. Host factors may be important because more than half the capsular
contractures in the current study were bilateral. Occurrence of capsular
contracture did not appear to be associated with implant surface or placement, occurrence of local complications, or patient characteristics, although these findings should be interpreted cautiously.