Should I do massaging after breast augmentation?

I do feel that most implants placed under the muscle do get somewhat massaged just by their location but also feel like this process of massaging is so easy to perform and will not hurt anything so why not perform it to assure the best chance of reducing capsular contracture. As a plastic surgeon we want to do everything we can to decrease the risk of capsular contracture. So why would we not do everything we can especially when it is so easy to perform.

Thank you for your question.If you find that your breast is tight and particularly if you went up a few cup sizes, then breast massage will help your implants settle. I typically recommend waiting a week as it sooner may be too uncomfortable. However, if you can tolerate it earlier, then you can do so. I also recommend lymphatic massage as this helps to reduce swelling much faster in the breast.As far as how to massage, I recommend displacing the implant in all four directions (up, down, left and right). Example, pinch the breast on the top to displace the implant downwards. For the lymphatic massage, it is much more of a light gentle touch. We often recommend a massage therapist to help with this or we show patients how to do this at home. You can repeat this several times a day.

Massage after augmentation is only recommended for smooth implants and should not be done if you have had textured implants. The reason is to keep the pocket large and allow the implant to have some freedom of movement while the body forms a capsule of scar tissue around the implant. This is felt to help prevent contracture of that capsule down the road as well as keep the implant soft and mobile so it can move with the breast. The frequency of massage will depend by surgeon and may range anywhere from 2-10x per day. It would be best to ask your surgeon what they recommend.