Capsular
contracture is one of the most common complications after
breast reconstruction. Surgical treatment is the main option for capsular
contracture correction and includes capsulotomy, capsulectomy, and removal/replacement of the affected implant. However, the surgical
trauma from reoperation, along with reduced quality of life, in patients with clinically significant capsular
contracture has prompted a search for alternative treatment options. The use of the
botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of neurological diseases and of
keloid scars in aesthetic practice nudged the idea of using the same toxin for the correction of capsular
contractures in
breast cancer patients.
Botulinum toxin type A injection is an easy procedure requiring no
anesthesia or inpatient care. The treatment has few side effects. In addition, the injection does not cause sensory loss or
dysesthesia. We described a clinical case of the capsular
contracture correction using incobotulinumtoxin A. Capsular
contracture IV developed 4 months post surgery after long-term lymphorrhea.
Radiation therapy was not performed. According to the internal protocol, the patient was advised to undergo incobotulinumtoxin A treatment instead of surgery. Within 1 week after the second injection, all symptoms decreased-specifically, the general shape of the reconstructed breast. Also, the
pain syndrome disappeared.