Should I Massage my Breasts After Breast Implant Surgery?

Tags:

massage recovery

28 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon

Doctor Answers (28)
Community Comments (0)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.