3 days post op of Breast Augmentation, I try to massage my breast, but it almost cause me to pass out. Is this common?

Hi. Different surgeons shave different approaches. There are surgeins who do not believe in post-op massage. I happen to be one who does. We begin our post-breast augmentation patients with the massage regimen at 1 week out. We have found (just like you) that it is often times very painful in the first 5-7 days. This is more so if the implants are behind the muscle. Good luck

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 for the first several months. At the beginning, I would let discomfort guide you so you are not fighting pain.

You should not massage your breast after only three days.  In the first week the internal pocket is still highly vascular and lots of movement such as moving your arms and massaging will increase the collection of bloody fluid in the breast pocket.  Not to mention that during the first week you breast is still very tender and pushing the implants around hurts like hell.  Blood in the pocket can lead to capsular contracture in the ensuring months to follow.  Its a known fact that blood around the implants increases the risk of capsule contracture.  I frequently used drains to remove the blood in the pocket since many of my patients are Asian and thus more likely to form scar compared to Caucasians.  During the first week I have noticed increased movement with increased bloody drainage coming from the breast pockets.  By the end of week two most of the hypervascularity of the breast tissue has decreased and internal wounds are more healed.  This is the time I start my patients with implant displacement exercises.  Until then you should be very inactive or blood will collect around the breast implants, which may cause unwanted scarring down the road.   There does not seem to be a consensus with Plastic Surgeons on how or when implants should be massaged or even massaged at all. I feel my rational makes logical sense.