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Should I Massage my Breasts After Breast Implant Surgery?

asked 4 years ago by anon
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 20,198 times
Tags: massage, recovery

26 answers to Should I Massage my Breasts After Breast Implant Surgery?

+6

Breast Implant Massage or Displacement Exercises are Very Important

Of course ask your doctor. However in my practice I begin massage of the Breast Implant, called Breast Implant Displacement Exercises, as soon as possible after surgery. Massage helps the implant settle into a natural looking position. Even more important, in my opinion, is that Breast Displacement Exercises stretch the normal capsule that surrounds the Implant and keeps the pocket for the Implant large and roomy. This helps prevent capsular contraction and firmness of the Breast... more
Brooke R. Seckel, MD

Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

+3

Implant displacement exercises help settle implants under the muscle

All breast augmentations that I perform are subpectoral (under the muscle). After surgery, patients look excessively full at the top of their breasts because the muscle tightens after surgery, and the implants take time to "settle" into place as the skin relaxes and stretches and the muscle also stretches to accommodate the added volume to the chest. The body forms a "capsule" around the implants which is a thin layer around implant (which is a process the body does... more
James F. Boynton, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+2

Very important to massage breasts after surgery

Several measures can be taken to prevent capsular contracture. First is by the surgeon who will create a pocket slightly larger than the implant under the muscle. This allows room for a thin layer of scar tissue to form (which is a natural part of the healing process). After surgery, breast implant massage is one of the best ways to prevent capsular contracture and keep the breasts soft. By squeezing the breasts in different directions, the implant moves around in the pocket, preventing too... more
Tarick K. Smaili, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+2

Massaging your breast implants

Opinion regarding implant massage varies. I begin having my patients move the implants around in the pocket on the day after surgery. I make the pocket larger than the implant, and use this massage technique to have the implant push on the sides of the pocket (particularly in the upper pocket) in order to prevent the capsule from contracting around the implant.
Adam David Lowenstein, MD

Santa Barbara Plastic Surgeon
+2

Massaging breast implants after surgery

Breast augmentation involves creating a pocket, either over or below the chest muscle. After your surgery, your body will try to absorb the impalnt, since it is a foreign material. Since it cannot, with time, your body will form a thin "shell" around the implant, essentially ignoring it. This happens with ALL foreign materials and is a normal process. Implant massage after breast surgery is important to maintain the pocket open, until the body has formed the shell around the... more
Michael A. Jazayeri, MD

Santa Ana Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Massage after Augmentation helps to keep Breasts Soft

My practice routine for patients is to perform breast massage - by displacing the implants in all directions forcefully as soon as it is comfortable to do so. This recommendation is only for smooth implants and not needed for textured implants in my opinion.
Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, massage is important and technique matters

I evaluate my patients after surgery to determine when they are ready for massage. When ready, I do feel breast massage is important to help keep the implants mobile within the breast pocket. I show my patients how to gently massage once or twice a day for just a few minutes. I ask them to do this for the rest of their lives to prevent scar build-up around the implant and thus, keep a soft, natural look. It is best to work with your board certified plastic surgeon to evaluate... more
Christine Rodgers, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implant Massage

There are no strong studies as to whether massaging helps or hurts the appearance of your implants or effects the rate of capsular contracture. Because capsules are essentially circumferential scar tissue, many surgeons believe that massaging of this scar tissue helps to lower the incidence of contracture. A significant risk of massage is displacement of the implant either to the side or too high from over-zealous massage. If one is to use massage to decrease contracture rates, I believe... more
David Bogue, MD

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

+1

Implant massage is helpful following breast enlargement

Approximately one week after breast augmentation, I advise my patients to begin implant displacement exercises. These involve pushing the implants up and (usually) pushing them in toward the midline about 5 to 10 minutes daily. These exercises help to expand the breast implant pocket and may reduce the risk of capsular contracture (tightening of scar tissue around the implants). All implants are high and tight immediately after surgery. Once the implants have settled, I recommend... more
Ronald Friedman, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massage or not after breast augmentation

It seems that most surgeons here are in favor of massaging the breasts after augmentation. I am not one of them, I do not recommend massage to my patients. To my knowledge there are no studies supporting the idea that massage helps the results of breast augmentation. Theoretically, it may stretch the capsule as it is forming and hep prevent capsular contracture. It may also help reduce the initial swelling depending upon the massage techniques used. Since there is no proof that massage... more
Adam Rubinstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massage is good

Most surgeons recommend massage after breast implant surgery. The main goal is to minimize capsular contracture which can occur when the body creates scar tissue (a normal response), that increases to the point of squeezing the implant and possibly creating a hard, mishapen and painful breast. This occurrence is unfortunately one of the problems for which we do not have a guaranteed preventative solution, nor do we have a definitive treatment or method to guarantee that it will not... more
David J. Levens, MD

Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

www.drlevens.com

+1

Breast Implant Massage is a MUST

I ask all of my breast augmentation clients to begin implant massage 36 hours after surgery. Although there is very little science behind this, anecdotal experience shows me that my patients who do not massage their implants tend to have a higher risk for high-riding implants and capsular contracture. In addition, I have all of my patients wear a breast band for 4 weeks after their surgery to encourage implant settling. As for duration of the implant massage, it instruct them to... more
Gregory A. Buford, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massaging breasts after implant surgery is debatable

There is debate about this among plastic surgeons. In general, it might help for the reasons given by the other doctors. So basically it cannot hurt and might help. That being said, I do not advise massage for patients with anatomic/tear drop implants. We want the tissues to firmly adhere to the surface of the implant, locking it into the correct orientation, and massage might disrupt this. Hope this helps.
Tracy Pfeifer, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

drpfeifer.com

+1

Should I massage my breasts after breast augmentation?

Hi there- You should absolutely massage your implants- but the technique is very important. Ask your surgeon about their preferred technique and what works well in their patients to achieve the best outcomes. 
Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

www.DrArmandoSoto.com

+1

Massage after breast augmentation

Some surgeons believe that massage will decrease capsular contracture and keep the pocket large. I do not think it is a good idea, since it can displace an implant, it does not decrease capsular contracture. IT GIVES YOU SOMETHING TO DO.
Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes, massage your breasts after breast implant surgery

Most surgeons would say that massaging the implant helps heep the capsules soft to prevent "capsular contracture". I ask my patients to start massage as soon as the pain allows. I tell them to picture trying to move the implant within its pocket and to push them toward one another and downward. Hope that helps!
Jeffrey Horowitz, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast massage

Every doctor suggests different things to their patients. I usually recommend breast massage after surgery especially in primary breast augmentation patients. If they have had corrective surgery, I may have them wait.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

You should massage the breasts after breast augmentation

The idea behind it is to keep the pocket of the implant slightly larger then the implant to help minimize capsular contracture. Most of our patients are encouraged to start massaging the breast 1-2 weeks after surgery and to massage toward the superior aspect to keep that part of the pocket larger.
William J. Hedden, MD

Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

www.heddenmd.com

+1

Breast Massage after Breast Augmentation

In my Los Angeles office, I routinely advise my patients to massage their breasts after augmentation mammaplasty. This is true in cases of silicone or saline augmentation. Massaging stimulates the remodeling of collagen fibers in the acute wound healing phase after surgery. This allows the breasts capsular contracture to soften acutely after surgery and minimizes the risk of deformity after surgery. If you have questions regarding your massage regimen, simply ask your plastic surgeon. more
Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast massage after augmentation is helpful

I have found that self-breast massage is beneficial after breast augmentation because: 1) Massaging your implants will help to counteract scar formation, keeping breast capsules softer. 2) Massaging your implants will help to facilitate descent of the implant after surgery; particularly when placed below the pectoralis muscle. 3) Massaging your implants will force you as a patient to become familiar with the size, shape and consistency of your breasts after augmentation. This is extremely... more
Kevin Brenner, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massage is beneficial for a variety of reasons.

I counsel women with breast implants that massage is useful for the following reasons: a) it is a biofeedback technique, in which the pain resulting from stretch on the muscle and breast flap is over ridden by the sensation of pressure from the massage; b) it allows displacement of the implant into the pocket; c) it reacquaints the woman with her breast and enables her to become familiar with breast self-exam; d) it may reduce the occurence of capsular contracture; e) it is a prelude to a... more
Lavinia Chong, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massage after breast implants is beneficial

Massaging your breasts after breast augmentation would prevent capsular contracture and help the implants settle into the pocket. It is not mandatory to start massaging directly after surgery. I would recommend waiting at least 2 weeks or once the swelling and bruising subsides. To avoid encapsulation, aggressive massage would help soften up the implants making them feel more natural.
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Massage

SEE VIDEO BELOW BY CLICKING "MORE" There is a big controversy about this among plastic surgeons and some advise massage while others strictly forbid it. You should discuss this with your plastic surgeon. I am attaching a video of our exersise regimen. see video
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

I instruct my patients to massage breasts after augmentation

Hello, I am a fan of breast massage after implant placement, but it is debatable. You will want to ask your surgeon what he or she recommends.
John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon
+1

I start my patients massaging at one week after surgery

By maintaining the pocket a little bigger than the implant, the result will be softer and the rates of capsular contracture will be lower hopefully. Just don't massage if you have a textured surface implant because there is no point in doing that with those implants.
Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes but no need to get carried away

The goal of breast massage or more accurately "implant displacement" is to keep things soft. The idea is that if the implant pocket is slightly larger than the implant, the results are softer. Additionally, displacement exercises help the patient identify contracture very early if it were to develop. With implants in the submuscular position, the action of the portion of the muscle that is not released does a little of the displacement for you. Generally I ask my patients to... more
York Jay Yates, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

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