How Do You Massage Breasts After Breast Augmentation?

Many of the other responders have mentioned that breast massaging is a controversial subject. I see no controversy; it is a total waste of your time. Breast massaging was invented back in the early 1960s when we knew very little about capsular contractions, their etiology, and their possible treatments. When I was at Stanford, I did a casual survey of women who massage their breasts and women who didn’t have the time to massage their breasts. I found that capsular contracture occurs in those who massage and those who don’t. Therefore, I believe this is the wrong modality to increase the chances of a soft breast.
Since the formation of a capsule around an implant is an immune phenomenon, the treatment of choice is to modulate the immune response biochemically and not mechanically. In 2003, Schlesinger et al, described the use of Accolate or Singulair to treat capsular contractures. Today, I give Accolate aka Zafirlukast immediately post-operatively to all my patients and I find it works very nicely to prevent capsular contractures.

I have had my round, smooth implant patients massage postoperatively for most of my 22 years of practice.  For a few years, I recommended no massage. Frankly, I did not see a difference in capsular contracture.  It is low risk either way. That said, it seems logical that displacing the implant to force a pocket that is larger than the implant makes sense.  I start displacement massage at 5 days and have the patient push below the breast and push the implant up toward the collarbone and hold for 10 sec.   The massage done 4 times a day for the first 3 months.  Textured implants, especially shaped textured implants are NOT  massaged.  Less maintenance! 

The first thing to understand is why we do massage. The goal of post augmentation breast massage or sometimes called implant displacement exercises is to keep the scar around the implant loose and soft. There are many different techniques for massaging ones breasts after augmentation. Each surgeon seems to like a slightly different technique. For my patients I will have them start about 2 weeks after surgery. I recommend to do them after a hot shower. The warm water tends to loosen scars. To start with a ask my patients to lay face down on the bed for about 10-15 minutes. This allows their own body weight to displace the implants and stretch the pocket. After that they use the butt of their hand to push the implant up, down and side to side. Kind of north, east, south and west.One could also use the edge of a hard bound book. While doing the massage it might be a little uncomfortable but should not hurt. If it does then stop. If it could be done twice a day that is great but it should be done at least daily. I also recommend doing this as long as the outside scar looks pink. For most patients that will be about 9 months.  

I have my patients move their implants starting the first day after surgery. Despite the fact that they have some restriction from wearing the sports bra for 3 weeks, it is still good to displace the implants in their pocket 3 or 4 times a day so the implant mobility is maintained. In terms of massaging the breast tissue itself, it does reduce some edema and make the patient more comfortable starting about 2 weeks post op. I have a licensed massage therapist in my practice do breast massage and massage of your post operative sites. If you allow someone else to do this who is not a professional, you may not be as happy with the massage outcome. The patient herself can massage and move her implants during her day through her clothing. I have found that the patients are much more desensitized and feel more comfortable when their implants are more mobilized by week 3. This has not been shown, however, to reduce the capsular contracture risk.

I do not have my patients massage their breasts following breast augmentation surgery as I believe it can increase your risk for capsular contraction.  I truly believe that control of the breast implant pocket is important and massaging can alter the size of the pocket following breast augmentation surgery. 

While some surgeons advocate for post-breast augmentation massage to potentially prevent capsular contracture and promote implant settling, it's important to note that there is no conclusive evidence supporting the benefit of massage. Techniques and recommendations can vary significantly among surgeons who recommend it. Any massage should only be initiated after receiving specific guidance and approval from your surgeon.

Hi, thank you for sharing your question. Breast massages are not mandatory and will depend on your surgeon's preferences. Many surgeons feel that it is a waste of time and that there is no evidence to suggest that it lowers your risk of contracture after surgery. Those that believe in massages feel that the gentle movements can displace the the implant within the pocket and allowing it to sit within a more natural position. Discuss this with your board certified plastic surgeon to determine what he/she recommends. I hope this helps.

I don't recommend massage for my patients after breast augmentation. There's no enough evidence that it prevents capsular contracture. Capsular contracture can be minimized by sterile, no-touch technique when inserting breast implants. That's why I used the Keller funnel to place my implants. The implants are open and placed into the breasts within 1 minute, without the implant ever touching my gloves or the patient's skin.

There is no evidence that breast massage helps in any way in preventing capsular contraction. People who use smooth implants tend to advice breast massage. In my practice i sue nano textured implants and do not advocate breast tissue massage. this has a risk of implant malposition to rotation.
I recommend massage of the scar tissue once all wounds are healed. I advice applying monitoring cream from 3weeks and use of silicone gels from 4 weeks. The scar massage to be done twice a day 5-10 mins gently with moisturising creams . No fancy creams, even E45 can be applied and used for moisturising of the scar areas.

I highly recommend massaging your breast one week after surgery. Start by massaging all around and avoid to massage on top the wound.

There isn't any good evidence that massage helps with a breast augmentation per se. However, massage does help with scarring. So once healed (typically 2 weeks), I would advise massaging the scar after showering and before putting the bra on and the same before bed - twice a day for 2 minutes with Bio-oil, E45 or another suitable moisturiser. This is general scar advice. It won't prevent a capsular contracture, rupture, implant animation or malposition, etc. Massage in general does make someone feel good and lift's one's mood. So with its limitations understood, massage can still be useful.