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Opinions on Massaging Silicone Under the Muscle (With Alloderm) Implants?

asked 11 months ago by Blythe in Joplin, MO
Latest answer by Michael L. Spann, MD
Question viewed 734 times
Tags: silicone implant, under muscle, massage

Dr. Says not necessary, but 4 weeks after surgery having pain (no other symptoms) . Contraindicated to do light massage? Still lots of numbness.

14 answers to Opinions on Massaging Silicone Under the Muscle (With Alloderm) Implants?

Alloderm in breast implants

Depending on why the alloderm was placed, I generally do not recommend early or aggressive massage. Typically this is used in either breast reconstruction or revision augmentation for a specific reason ... to keep the implants in place the alloderm needs to integrate into your tissue. Massage could dislodge the graft and result in the implants moving. However, if you are having pain and firmness this could be an early sign of capsular contracture. Visit with your... more

Michael L. Spann, MD
Little Rock Plastic Surgeon

Massaging breasts

Massaging the breasts after breast augmentation is really individualized by the surgeon. Some recommend it and some do not. Speak with your doctor.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Breast Implants - Opinions on Massaging Silicone Under the Muscle (With Alloderm) Implants?

Hi Blythe, Massaging may not be necessary - in any case! There is actually very little hard data confirming the importance of massaging submuscular implants and, when you think about it, every time you move your arms, you're actually massaging them anyway. In your case, you have the added issue of Alloderm. Products such as these (Acellular Dermal Matrix) have been reported to be associated with a higher incidence of seromas (fluid collections) and, for that... more

Alan Engler, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

Massaging breasts after surgery

This is definitely a question for your surgeon and I would not perform massage unless he OK's it. The alloderm is sutured in place and it would be possible to disrupt sutures early after surgery and cause a problem with the result. In addition, there is no evidence that massage does any good in the prevention of capsular contracture. It has been out of favor for a number of years even though some surgeons still promote it. That being said, it will not do any harm... more

Jeffrey E. Kyllo, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Massage after breast aumentation

I do not believe massage has a role post augmentation, particularly when alloderm or other biologic membranes have been used. These materials depend on stability and massage can disrupt the ingrowth of blood vessels needed for incorporation. Pain is common after breast surgery becasue there are a lot of small nerves that are stretched and sometimes damaged. As the breast settles and as scar tissue matures small nerves are further irritated. It can take as long as... more

Daniel Greenwald, MD
Tampa Plastic Surgeon

Massaging breast implants

It remains somewhat unclear from the literature whether or not post-operative massaging (displacement exercises) really works to decrease capsular contracture. I typically instruct my breast augmentation patients to begin displacement exercises 1-2 weeks after surgery if smooth implants were used during the surgery. Most patients will start slow because they may still be a bit sore. As time goes on patients are usually able to be more aggressive. I don't think... more

Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon

www.drgallego.com

Massage with Revision Breast Surgery

You should communicate with your surgeon because only he/she knows what was performed during surgery and if you should massage. I have all of my primary breast augmentation patients massage after surgery but not necessarily so for my breast revision patients (it depends on what I have performed). Revisionary surgery is tricky and so you should take the advice of your surgeon.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Massage after alloderm and implants

Alloderm will eventually be incorporated into the adjacent tissues. I would follow your surgeon recommendations since he knows your situation best. You should be able to massage when he feels no likelyhood of damage. Donald R Nunn MD Atlanta Plastic Surgeon.

Donald Nunn, MD, DDS
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Opinions on Massaging Silicone Under the Muscle (With Alloderm) Implants?

What I would recommend vs your chosen surgeon is the issue. You need to follow your chosen surgeons protocols not ours.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

No benefit to massage

It is our belief that there is no benefit to massage. The muscle actually restricts breast movement.

John W. Bass, MD
Phoenix Plastic Surgeon

Breast massage with Alloderm

Alloderm needs to incorporate into the tissue, and we feel that breast massage with the material could be counterproductive. Also the allograft will have a greater risk of seroma, and keeping the breast still in a snug bra is probably the best advice. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

Massaging breast implants is not necessary with Alloderm

The use of massage to reduce capsular contracture with breast implants is recommended by many plastic surgeons but there is scant evidence if any to prove that it helps and it could be counterproductive with Alloderm. Sometimes massage is helpful early on to help implants settle if the tissues are tight. However, if you have Alloderm there must be a specific reason why it was used, but if you massage the breast before the Alloderm is fully integrated then you could actually dislodge it... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Massaging Breast Implants

I rarely have my patients massage their implants at this time although I always suggested this several years ago. I now place virtually all implants under the muscle which (I think) naturally massages the implants. I rarely see capsular contracture since adopting this regimen.

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Massaging Implants Generally A Good Idea, But Effective?

No one really knows whether massaging breast implants makes a clinical difference in the development of capsular contracture or not. In theory it does, but there is no way to really prove it. Nonetheless, I generally have patients, both augmentation and reconstruction, massage twice a day for 10 minutes each starting at the one week mark after surgery. If you just had the implants placed with Alloderm at the same time, then I would agree that you want to be gentle and not... more