Expansion exercises: modifying contracture of the augmented breast.

Capsular contracture, the condition wherein fibrous tissue encapsulates the implanted silastic gel prosthesis used in breast augmentation, remains the most frequent complication in surgical enlargement of the small breast. Since the condition is a natural, wound-healing response to an implanted foreign body, management of the problem must be geared to the modification of this response. Expansion exercises, manual manipulation of the affected breast tissue for controlling capsule formation, was evaluated. Results showed that subjects who did not use expansion exercises had a higher incidence of capsular contracture than the subjects who did.