Breast Augmentation Q&A
92%
WORTH IT RATING
"Worth It Rating" shows the % of consumer reviewers that stated the procedure was "Worth It" or not. See more RealSelf Worth It Ratings or Add Your Review
774 Reviews
Breast Augmentationbefore & after photos
View Before and Afters

Average Breast Augmentation Cost: $6,200

Learn about Breast Augmentation

3,424 people and 892 doctors are talking about Breast Augmentation

Get Free Email Updates

How May Times a Day Are You Supposed to Massage Your Breasts After Augmentation, and for How Long Each Time?

asked 11 months ago by singlemomof3 in Trenton, NJ
Latest answer by Robert Heck, MD
Question viewed 1,056 times
Tags: 2 weeks post-op, duration, frequency, massage

I had breast augmentation on the 14th of July so it has been a little over 2 weeks.

15 answers to How May Times a Day Are You Supposed to Massage Your Breasts After Augmentation, and for How Long Each Time?

+5

Displacement Exercises for Smooth Breast Implants

The displacement of breast implants is recommended to reduce the risk of capsular contracture. Displacement of breast implants is done for smooth surfaced saline- and silicone gel-filled implants; it is not recommended for breast implants with a textured surface. Smooth breast implants will move freely within the pocket, while textured surface implants do not move either because of increased friction caused by the texturing, or tissue in-growth into the textured surface. I have my... more
Kenneth Dembny, II, MD

Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

www.mycpss.com

+3

Don't need to massage your breasts

Massaging breasts is an old ritual that has never been proven scientifically to help. The concept was that it would somehow help to prevent capsular contracture (firm scar tissue squeezing the implants and making them feel hard). Capsular contractures were prevalent 30 years ago, but fortunately not quite as common today (possibly because of the use of saline implants, going under the muscle, and also better silicone implants that leak much less). I tell my own... more
Eric Swanson MD

Leawood Plastic Surgeon
+2

How May Times a Day Are You Supposed to Massage Your Breasts After Augmentation, and for How Long Each Time?

Great question and look at all the differing opinions, makes for an interactive venue. I'm more realistic as to implant massage or exercising. What do I mean? Well if you don't do them and get a capsular contracture or fibrosis, than you will be one of those - 'what if' patients. You know, what if I had done the massages would I be with this issue? Whether there is true science behind the concept of massaging or not, it seems to me after 34 years of implanting it is better to... more
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massaging their breasts

Massaging breast post a breast augmentation surgery is physician dependant. I prefer my patients start gently massaging their breast at 2 weeks post surgery for 2-3 minutes at a time, 2-3 times a day.
Robert Heck, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massage after Breast Augmentation

Thank you for the question and pictures. Since you have had the procedure I would recommend that you follow your plastic surgeon's recommendations. Most likely he/she has recommended massage of the breast implants which is felt by many plastic surgeons to be helpful in keeping the breast implant soft. if you have questions about the specific technique your plastic surgeon recommends then address those with him/her during your next visit. Otherwise,... more
Tom J. Pousti, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

+1

Massaging after Breast Implants

I recommend to my patients to massage 2-3 times a day for 5 minutes starting 1 week after surgery until they are in a good position which is usually around 1 month.
Robert N. Young, MD

San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.dryoungforever.com

+1

Massaging Breast Implants

I no longer ask my patients to massage their breast implants although I did do so routinely several years ago. I currently place almost all implants below the muscle and I feel that the action of the overlying muscle more or less naturally "massages" the implants without the need for any additional external massage. Since adopting this philosophy, I very rarely see a significant capsular contracture. This again indicates to me that there is no need for external... more
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

How to massage breasts after augmentation.

Massage is the wrong term--Implant movement exercises help keep the surgical pocket bigger than the implant. As seen in the replies, some plastic surgeons feel that breast "massage" is not necessary, but most experienced breast surgeons feel that implant movement exercises help to keep the submuscular pocket (created to enclose the implant) larger than the implant, reducing the likelihood (or severity) of capsular contracture. Capsular contracture is tightening of the scar... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

You should not massage your breasts after breast augmentation.

Hi. This is an old practice without any scientific basis. Your tissues heal best at rest. Massage doesn't do anything good and might hurt the surgical result. We tell our patients to stay in a surgical bra, sleep on your back, and keep your elbows near your body. see video
George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Massage For 3 Months After Augmentation

I generally recommend breast massage for 10 minutes each morning and evening starting one week after surgery. I ask patients to continue this for the first three months. After three months, the initial healing reaction is gone, so the chances of developing scar tissue at that point are lower. I also encourage my patients to lay on their stomach for 5-10 minutes before they go to bed if they are not natural stomach sleepers. The weight of their body does the same thing... more
Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD

Barrington Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast massage after implants, maybe not

It seems that breast massage after augmentation to lessen the risk of capsules is falling out of favor. We do not recommend massage and feel the implant should fit the pocket, hand in glove and move with the breast. The breast and implant should feel as one. Displacing the implant up into the pocket to reduce capsule risk also is not recommended for the reasons given, not a natural feel to be able to push the implant from under the breast. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd more
Peter E. Johnson, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

www.peterejohnsonmd.com

+1

Breast augmentation and post operative massage

I do not have my patients massage their breasts for the reasons already mentioned however it is important that you consult with your surgeon to review his/her specific post operative instructions. Best wishes!
Christine Sullivan, MD

Columbus Plastic Surgeon
+1

Breast Implant Massage

Hello Singlemomof3, Breast implant massage is an out of date and scientifically proven useless manuever, regardless of the implants shell character: smooth or textured. Evidence based medicine suggests that what is done at the time of surgery has the biggest impact on your risk to capsular contracture. For some individuals though, pushing the implants together and up feels good and makes women feel more supple in the first few weeks after surgery. There is no effect... more
Gerald Minniti, MD, FACS

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Massaging implants after surgery

In the past, it has always been recommended to massage your breasts after a breast augmentation. I do not recommend this to my patients. I tell my patients that you do not have to do anything to the breasts after surgery and to just let them heal. There are more risks associated with massaging the breast that I believe that can hinder the healing process. When you massage the breasts, your are touching them and this allows bacteria from your hands to make it's way into the incision... more
Leo Lapuerta, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Implant massage protocol

All of my patients who have smooth implants are told to massage them twice a day. I instruct them to take their open hand and first compress the implant with their palm. The implant is compressed flat against the ribs and held for about 1 or 2 seconds. The patient should then move the implant up towards the top of the implant pocket, in towards the breast bone, down towards the bottom of the breast and finally outward toward the side of the breast. Each compression is held... more
James H. Schmidt, MD

Sarasota Plastic Surgeon

Ask a question