Which type of implant has a greater risk of capsular contracture?

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Capsular contracture is driven by how the surrounding tissue reacts to the implanted material. Silicone gel implants tend to provoke a more sustained inflammatory and fibrotic response around the implant, leading to a thicker capsule that is more likely to contract over time. Saline implants, by contrast, are filled with salt water; if the shell leaks, the saline is absorbed and the inflammatory stimulus is minimal, resulting in a lower risk of contraction. Autologous tissue isn’t an implant, so a capsule around foreign material doesn’t form in the same way. Hydrogel implants are less commonly used and vary in behavior, but the strongest association in this context is with silicone gel.