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After breast augmentation, should I massage regardless of pain?

I got cleared to start massages two days ago (I'm now 2 weeks post op) and I'm wondering if I should be pushing through the massages regardless of pre existing breast pain (not caused by the massage, just the normal tenderness after BA)? I want to follow my ps exactly so I'm a bit worried about the fact that I'm not able to massage very much at all bc of the pain. Is it ok to that I'm being gentle about the massages and slowly increasing the intensity as the pain slowly goes away each day?

Doctor Answers 6

Plastic surgery recommendations.

November 28th, 2016
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I would encourage to follow your plastic surgeon's recommendations, but also use common sense. If any area is too tender then calling your plastic surgeon and checking with them makes sense. Massaging techniques are variable, but they do help round breast implants to "drop and fluff" better in most cases. Best, Dr. ALDO

Aldo Guerra, MD


Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 208 reviews

November 28th, 2016

Plastic surgery recommendations.

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

I would encourage to follow your plastic surgeon's recommendations, but also use common sense. If any area is too tender then calling your plastic surgeon and checking with them makes sense. Massaging techniques are variable, but they do help round breast implants to "drop and fluff" better in most cases. Best, Dr. ALDO

Aldo Guerra, MD


Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon
4.9 out of 5 stars 208 reviews

After breast augmentation, should I massage regardless of pain?

November 26th, 2016
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I do not recommend massage after breast augmentation in most cases, but plastic surgeons will have different recommendations.

Kenneth B. Hughes, MD
November 26th, 2016

After breast augmentation, should I massage regardless of pain?

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I do not recommend massage after breast augmentation in most cases, but plastic surgeons will have different recommendations.

Kenneth B. Hughes, MD

Should I Massage After Surgery

November 25th, 2016
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HERE ARE SOME BASIC POST-OP HEALING TIPS AFTER BREAST SURGERY, AUGMENTATION, LIFTS:

1.    pain is variable

2.    it takes 2-3 months for implants to settle and muscles to relax

3.    celebrex, motrin, and muscle relaxers can help

4.    massage and stretching may help

5.    everyone heals differently

6.    4-7 days off from work is common

If you find that you are concerned or worried at all about the healing process it would be best to visit your surgeon for a follow-up to have the implants examined and make sure that healing is progressing as it should. Best of luck.

Web reference: http://www.horowitzmd.com/plastic-surgery-procedures-newport-beach/breast-augmentation/

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS
November 25th, 2016

Should I Massage After Surgery

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HERE ARE SOME BASIC POST-OP HEALING TIPS AFTER BREAST SURGERY, AUGMENTATION, LIFTS:

1.    pain is variable

2.    it takes 2-3 months for implants to settle and muscles to relax

3.    celebrex, motrin, and muscle relaxers can help

4.    massage and stretching may help

5.    everyone heals differently

6.    4-7 days off from work is common

If you find that you are concerned or worried at all about the healing process it would be best to visit your surgeon for a follow-up to have the implants examined and make sure that healing is progressing as it should. Best of luck.

Learn more: http://www.horowitzmd.com/plastic-surgery-procedures-newport-beach/breast-augmentation/

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS

Massage after breast augmentation?

November 24th, 2016
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Congratulations on having undergone the breast augmentation procedure.

Massage of breasts after breast surgery is not a universally accepted or agreed-upon  principle. Each plastic surgeon may have his/her opinion that is based on their specific/unique education, experience, and personal preferences. Their opinions may also be shaped by unfavorable results they have encountered in their practices.  


Therefore, once a patient has selected her plastic surgeon, best to follow his/her advise/instructions, as opposed to those of online consultants. Your plastic surgeon knows exactly what procedure was performed, how he/she obtains the best outcomes possible, how you are progressing, and is ultimately responsible for your care. Best wishes.

Web reference: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS
November 24th, 2016

Massage after breast augmentation?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Congratulations on having undergone the breast augmentation procedure.

Massage of breasts after breast surgery is not a universally accepted or agreed-upon  principle. Each plastic surgeon may have his/her opinion that is based on their specific/unique education, experience, and personal preferences. Their opinions may also be shaped by unfavorable results they have encountered in their practices.  


Therefore, once a patient has selected her plastic surgeon, best to follow his/her advise/instructions, as opposed to those of online consultants. Your plastic surgeon knows exactly what procedure was performed, how he/she obtains the best outcomes possible, how you are progressing, and is ultimately responsible for your care. Best wishes.

Learn more: http://www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Tom J. Pousti, MD, FACS

Massaging after breast augmentation?

November 24th, 2016
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Thank you for your question. Every surgeon will have his/her own preferences as to recovery for specific procedures.  I have patients wear a soft bra after breast augmentation for a few weeks to splint everything, and at that point the scars are generally very stable and we move to normal bras (or none) and long term scar management. No massaging is really needed.

The best person to advise you on this is your specific surgeon.  

Web reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKx5-i-D37g&t=2s

Carolina Restrepo, MD
November 24th, 2016

Massaging after breast augmentation?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thank you for your question. Every surgeon will have his/her own preferences as to recovery for specific procedures.  I have patients wear a soft bra after breast augmentation for a few weeks to splint everything, and at that point the scars are generally very stable and we move to normal bras (or none) and long term scar management. No massaging is really needed.

The best person to advise you on this is your specific surgeon.  

Learn more: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKx5-i-D37g&t=2s

Carolina Restrepo, MD

After BA, should I massage regardless of pain?

November 24th, 2016
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Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  This is a widely debated topic on forums amongst plastic surgeons and as each of us has our own respective recovery protocol I would follow the instructions given to you as your surgeon feels they are appropriate.  No studies have ever been done that demonstrate either harm or efficacy of implant displacement exercises.  Hope this helps.

Web reference: Http://www.nelson-center.com/breast-augmentation.html

Nelson Castillo, MD
November 24th, 2016

After BA, should I massage regardless of pain?

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thank you for sharing your excellent question.  This is a widely debated topic on forums amongst plastic surgeons and as each of us has our own respective recovery protocol I would follow the instructions given to you as your surgeon feels they are appropriate.  No studies have ever been done that demonstrate either harm or efficacy of implant displacement exercises.  Hope this helps.

Learn more: Http://www.nelson-center.com/breast-augmentation.html

Nelson Castillo, MD

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.