Breast augmentation is one of the most popular operations in cosmetic surgery. However, a significant number of patient experience hardening of their implants. This is called capsular contracture. It results from scar tissue forming around the implant and confining it to a tight space. The breasts can feel firm, be distorted and even painful. The breast can look fairly normal, but the firmness often leaves women uncomfortable and self-conscious to even hug someone. One no longer has to live with this condition. Now, there’s a solution that consistently works to provide soft, natural feeling and appearing breasts—even if one’s had multiple operations already.
The Pocket Protector®, a patented device I invented, can be used to repair breast with capsule contracture or even used in first time augmentation. The Pocket Protector® is made from the same FDA approved material as Gore-Tex® or ePTFE (expanded-PolyTetraFluoroEthylene) and is shaped into a bladder. After the scar tissue and old implant are removed and the pocket revised, it’s placed under the breast or the chest muscle (i.e. the pocket) and serves to line that space, keeping it from scarring back down upon itself and contracting around the implant. While this material has been used in general and vascular surgery for many years, I first introduced it into cosmetic/plastic surgery in 1983 and it is still commonly used. The material is microporous and the body actually grows blood vessels and connective tissue into the material without forming a scar around it (except in cases of extreme tissue injury). Within three months, there’s no tissue reaction to the material and it is safely incorporated into one’s body, essentially as a synthetic scar. The implant remains soft and natural, even in the most difficult cases.
For more information visit my website at www.markbermanmd.com .