Will Massages in First 6 Months After Breast Implants Virtually Eliminate Risk of Future Capsular Contraction?

asked 1 year ago by Sacramento CA in Sacramento CA
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 856 times
Tags: capsular contracture, massage

When I got 300cc sub-muscular silicone breast implants 7 months ago, my surgeon told me that if I performed the massages he taught me for the first 6 months there'd be no further risk of capsular contraction. I've had no problems, but I'm seeing stories on this website of capsular contraction happening years and decades post-op. Is what my surgeon told me true in my situation?

11 answers to Will Massages in First 6 Months After Breast Implants Virtually Eliminate Risk of Future Capsular Contraction?

VIDEO: Breast massage for breast implant augmentation surgery

In my experience breast massages will help minimize the risk but not completely eliminate it. I have prepared a video on this subject and strongly encourage my patients to perform them . See VIDEO below. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Will Massages in First 6 Months After Breast Implants Virtually Eliminate Risk of Future Capsular Contraction?

The answer to your question is no. Science does not understand capsular contracture at this time. We do have a number of theories as to why it occurs, the current one is inflammation caused by a subclinical infection around the implant. It is also true that capsular contracture occurs with the highest incidence in the first year after implantation; however, it can occur any time in the patients life after implantation without necessarily rhyme or reason. I also recommend massage, and I... more

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

Capsular Contracture

"Massage in the first 6 months will eliminate the risk of capsular contracture"....Give me your doctor's name, I want to learn the same massage technique he uses! Here's the Real Deal: Capsular Contracture is still an enigma to us plastic surgeons; although we have some ideas on causes (hematoma, multiple surgeries, style of implant(?), etc.) we do not know for sure what causes it. We also know that over the life-time of your implants, the risk of developing cap more

John Philip Connors III, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Massage to minimize risk of capsular contracture

The greatest risk for contracture Is within the first 6 months. Massaging the implants has shown to help minimize this risk but like many things in plastic surgery, there is not a great deal of science behind it. Your surgeon's experience and my own as well has shown this to be true in some cases. However, there is a small chance of contracture occurring at any time, one year later, two years later or even 20 years later. At the end of the implants lifespan when implants fail,... more

Andrew Kaczynski, MD
Sacramento Plastic Surgeon

www.drkmd.com

Early massage after breast augmentation is no guarantee against capsular contracture!

While early massage is very effective in softening the capsule around your implants, there is no guarantee that you will not develop capsular contracture down the road. The thought is that by placing your implants under the muscle, the overlying muscle actually manipulates the capsule on the daily basis following your healing and so may lead to less issues with firmness. But, this has never actually been proven. Your best bet for avoiding contracture is to be... more

Gregory A. Buford, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Massaging Augmented Breasts is NOT a Cure for Capsular Contracture (Scarring)

Regarding: "Will Massages in First 6 Months After Breast Implants Virtually Eliminate Risk of Future Capsular Contraction? When I got 300cc sub-muscular silicone breast implants 7 months ago, my surgeon told me that if I performed the massages he taught me for the first 6 months there'd be no further risk of capsular contraction. I've had no problems, but I'm seeing stories on this website of capsular contraction happening years and decades post-op. Is what my surgeon... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Massage and capsular contracture

While I recommend massage because I think it can not hurt and may help, there are no scientific studies that support it one way or the other.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

No data

There is no data to support that massaging will eliminate the risk of capsular contracture that I am aware of.

Samer W. Cabbabe, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

You can't eliminate capsular contracture risk

I don't think you heard your doctor correctly because no experienced plastic surgeon would even say that massage could give you "no further risk of cc." Just not true...

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Capsular Contracture Difficult to Predict

It is difficult to predict who will or will not have capsular contractures, although I do feel the rate is significantly higher with implants which are "too large". I also do not have patients perform massage and I see capsular contracture very rarely in my patients. I feel the pectoralis muscle under which I place 98% of my implants massages the implants without a need for "massage exercises".

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Implant massage and capsular contracture

I personally don't think that implant massage does anything to prevent CC. This issue is related to low grade infection and inflammation around breast implants. External manipulation of the implats don't impact this process.