Is Ultrasound Massage Harmful to Breast Implants?

   Capsular contracture is progressive and will likely continue despite ultrasound.  The ultrasound should not be harmful.

Since 1999 along with a very skilled physical therapist, I have been using 1 mhz therapeutic ultrasound on breast implants that are not settling in as expected. I have shared this protocol with several other plastic surgeons whom I've known or trained with, who have all enjoyed success with the protocol. At times that we have allowed patients who are physical therapists to do the protocol on themselves, most have over treated themselves, resulting in an implant that slipps too low, a testament to effectiveness. The protocol has been documented with photos of a one sided high riding implant that is likely in a pocket with more post surgical inflammation than the other side, after 2 sessions the patient is re-examined and photographed. The implant that has been high, settled in. Sometimes up to 6 treatments are done. I re-examine after every two treatments, before proceeding with additional treatments. The window of time for this treatment is roughly 2-3 months post surgery. A well developed capsule will not be as likely to respond, and we have not used this as a go-to late modality for the well developed capsule contracture. We have probably treated several hundred patients with the protocol without incident. It is difficult to design a scientific study to assess the efficacy of a procedure like this, or we would have published it in a peer reviewed journal. Singulair probably extends the window of time that this procedure will work. It is an off- label usage of the device.

I dont think ultrasound is harmful to your breasts or breast implants. I dont think that singulaire is effective either but it is probably not harmful.