Can breast massage after explant help with fluffing?

Question

Will it help things return to normal faster if I do a daily massage? Is the massage for explant the same as it is for after implant?

Bahram Ghaderi, MD · Answer

Compression after implant removal is more important than massage. The pocket where the implant was can form fluid and compression helps reduce that risk. Discuss your specific instructions with your surgeon.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question. When breast implants are removed, the overlying breast skin/tissue tends to contract ( "bounce back") to some degree.  This degree of contraction will vary from one patient to another depending on the patient's skin/tissue characteristics.  For example, the amount of breast skin redundancy and/or elasticity play important roles.  These changes that occur, often leading to an improvement of breast appearance in general, may be referred to as "fluffing";  keep in mind that this is a non medical term and not universally utilized.Generally speaking what breasts look like after explantation depends on several factors such as: the quality of skin elasticity (the better the elasticity the better the skin will bounce back), the size of the implants used (the larger the implant the more trouble you may have with redundant skin), and the amount of breast tissue present at this time (which may have changed since the time of your breast augmentation).Life experience since your breast augmentation procedure, such as pregnancy or weight gain weight loss, will potentially influence the factors discussed above. If you take these factors into consideration and apply them to your specific circumstances you may get a good idea of what to expect after the implants are removed. 
Patience is definitely indicated after removal of breast implants; it will take many months for the skin to “bounce back” and for you to see the final appearance of the breasts.The use of massage and appropriate garment/bra may be helpful during this process.
Consulting with well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons in person may be helpful. The attached link (lots of before and after photographs examples) may be helpful to you as well.
Best wishes.

Milind K. Ambe, MD · Answer

It is definitely more important to have compression (like with a sports bra or ace bandage) then it is to massage the breasts after explantation.  Often women need a lift after an explant to help with shaping and to get the best aesthetic result.  Massaging will do little to nothing to help your result unless you are starting to develop a contracture to the skin/breast area after surgery.  Seek an in person consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon who performs a lot of revision breast surgeries, especially explantation. Best of luck to you

Ciro Adamo, PhD, MD · Answer

Compression is much more important than massages after removal of breast implants. There is no evidence that massages would help, and they would also be quite painful, at least in the immediate postoperative period.

Donald W. Kress, MD, FACS · Answer

I'm not certain what "fluffing" is but after explant, I usually have my patients wear a strap across the chest to keep the breasts supported as the internal tissues reattach. I have consistently been surprised at how little sag is present with this technique.

Alan M. Engler, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

I don't believe there's any scientific evidence to support this.  In fact, during the early period, it's probably more important to maintain some form of compression, to prevent fluid accumulation, than anything else.  You should of course follow the instructions of your own PS.  Some surgeons used drains, some don't, so that could affect the early management of your care.Ultimately (several weeks or months post surgery) it may not matter that much what you do - ie, it won't hurt it if you massage but it also does not mean that you will "fluff" your breasts if you massage them.  In my experience, the final result depends much more on the usual factors (size of implants, how long they were in place, ancillary procedures etc) than anything that the patient can do directly.I hope that this helps and good luck,Dr. Alan EnglerMember of #RealSelf100

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

My patients wear a tight surgical bra after the procedure.  This helps to keep the breasts supported as the internal tissues reattach.  Follow your surgeon's post operative instructions.

Can breast massage after explant help with fluffing?

Answers (7)

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