How Soon Should I Start Massaging After a Breast Augmentation?

Implants sitting high immediately after surgery is not uncommon. Of course, much of what you would be experiencing only 2 days after surgery is swelling, and this can at times be quite alarming.If you have significant concerns regarding potentially high riding implants and/or swelling then it is imperative you raise these issues with your surgeon immediately. They will know precisely what is normal for you and advise accordingly.However, as a general guideline, it would NOT be recommended to commence downward breast implant massage so soon after surgery. For starters, it would be far too painful to even consider doing this. Most importantly, the wounds are far to fresh and "immature" to be subject to any excessive pressure beyond that which the implants themselves cause. I inform all my patients that surgical wounds need to be shown the appropriate "respect" to allow them to heal properly. Of course, the very concept of breast "massaging" is highly debatable.As a general rule, once the breasts have fully softened and settled (3-6 months post-op), I do not recommend any formal breast massaging.However, I do believe it provides a vital part in the recovery process.Of course, "massaging" has several aspects to it and all patients in my clinic are provided the following general guidelines:- Firstly, all patients are advised to "massage/moisturise" the breast skin commencing prior to surgery and continuing for 3 months after surgery.- At 1 week post-op we advise all our patients to commence massaging down the cleavage line to help reduce the swelling and start to define the new cleavage. - At the three week post-op stage you are then instructed on how to commence massaging your breasts. This might vary slightly between patients depending on how they are sitting. This is designed to help soften and settle your breasts. - Also at the 3 week stage we advise all our patients to commence massaging the scar/incision which helps soften it release any tethering. Does long-term ongoing massaging reduce the future risk of capsular contracture? The answer is "probably not".However it does play a vital role in the initial softening and settling of the breasts and reminds patients that their new breasts are not "fragile" and that they can be handled normally.

It’s completely normal to feel that tight, high-on-the-chest sensation just a couple of days after breast augmentation—especially with 600cc high-profile implants placed under the muscle. Early on, this tightness is expected as your tissues adjust and the implants begin the “settling” process.

In terms of massage, protocols vary based on the surgeon’s technique and implant type. Some surgeons recommend starting gentle implant massage around 1–2 weeks post-op to help maintain softness and promote settling, while others may advise waiting longer—or not massaging at all—depending on surgical preference and implant characteristics.

At just 2 days post-op, your tissues are still healing and delicate. Massaging this early could potentially disrupt the healing process or irritate the implant pocket. I would strongly recommend holding off on any self-directed massage until you receive clear guidance from your surgeon at your first post-op visit.

That annoying sensation of fullness and tightness will gradually improve over the coming weeks as swelling decreases and the implants begin to drop into a more natural position—so patience here is key. In short: avoid massage for now, keep following your surgeon’s specific post-op instructions, and bring up your concerns at your follow-up appointment so they can tailor advice based on your healing progress.

Hello there, this is a great question. As long as it is comfortable, you can begin some light massages to the implant which will keep them soft and will not cause any damage. Your plastic surgeons should be able to teach you appropriate techniques following your augmentation.

It seems like a lot of answers on real self have stated that breast massage is a waste of time, however I disagree.
While it is unproven (other than anecdotal reports) in preventing capsular contracture, I do feel breast massage helps keep the upper breast capsule open and can gently "massage" the breasts into a more ideal position during the first few weeks. This is important in helping to prevent that sharp "step off" that you see after some breast augmentations. 

I start my patients on breast massage at the 1 week visit. 3 reps 3x per day. If the implants need to be moved in a certain direction, I have them focus on that area
It is best you discuss with your surgeon as each of us will have different reasons for what we do.
Best,
Dr. Richland

Different surgeons have different instructions after breast augmentation. My recommendation to my patients is not to massage the breasts. There aren't proven benefits from this activity, however, I prefer for patients to do soft stretching with their arms after two weeks, progressively increasing after six weeks. 

Hi! this is a great question! Most surgeons recommend some sort of massage routine after surgery. Implants often sit high on the chest wall immediately after surgery, and downward massage helps the implant settle into position. This is a process that may take several months. Most surgeons also recommend daily massage of the breasts/implants after surgery to keep the breasts supple. It is believed that daily massage helps prevent capsular contracture or hardening of the implants. Whether this is clinically significant or not is a subject of debate, but it certainly can’t hurt. 

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Hello,
Thanks for your question!
Each plastic surgeon may have different instructions on when to massage. It may be best to discuss with your PS when to start. 
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Regards,

I generally have my patients start stretching exercises and implant massage within 3-5 days of their procedure.Every surgeon has different ideas as far as massage is.  In fact in certain cases, with textured implants, you don't want to do any massaging.  I would recommend discussing this with your plastic surgeon to see what his/her recommendation is regarding breast implant massage.Hope that helps.

I recommend early massage but I don’t want my patients to begin this on their own.  I will see my BA patients within 2 days of surgery and depending on many factors I may begin implant displacement exercises then

As you can see, there is no set answer to this question. I personally think gentle massage works very well and has been shown to decrease the incidence of capsular contracture and will encourage high riding implants to drop. That being said, the correct answer for you is what your surgeon recommends as part of your post-surgery protocol! 

Thank you for your question. In this case, you are very soon after surgery at post-op day 2, so be sure to follow instructions that your plastic surgeon gave you. However, you had a large implant inserted, which means it is going to feel tight. It will settle down somewhat, but you are very early after surgery. I would not massage the implants until your incisions heal further.