Breast Self - Massage

OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN

The healing touch

Many plastic surgery patients are aware of the importance of receiving massage after their procedures. Post-surgical massage is extremely beneficial in helping the lymphatic system process excessive lymphatic fluid (aka lymph) that may build up after surgery. Encouraging lymph drainage promotes healthy blood flow and circulation. Another benefit of moving this fluid out of the body quickly is that massage therapists can also provide a little relief from pain and swelling.

If you’ve read our earlier blog about lymphatic massage, you know we recommend finding a licensed massage therapist to provide this service. Trained professionals know the exact direction to move their hands for efficient lymph drainage. Believe it or not, there’s an order of where to begin the therapeutic touch.

There’s another type of post-surgical massage that you can do on your own. If you’ve had breast augmentation with breast implants, you should be performing breast self-massage as you heal. Read on to learn why.

Make time for massage

Yes, your body hurts. You’re swollen and incisions are healing. You might feel sutures poke out a little before they dissolve or are removed. You might be thinking a hands-off approach is best and it IS, but only for the first month. You should start your own breast massages about a month after surgery.

Why should you touch the tatas?

Some things in life were meant to be looked at but not touched. Your breasts do not fall into that category. Get the most out of this investment you just made in yourself and enjoy the following benefits of self-massage:

• Soften the implants
• Allow them to drop and fluff
• Minimize the chance of capsular contracture

Soften the implants

By performing self-massage, you are loosening any tissue and/or muscle surrounding the implant that may be tight so they can relax a little. Similar to lymphatic drainage massage, breast self-massage helps reduce post-surgical swelling within your breast, thereby softening the implant and making it more fun to touch.

Allow them to drop and fluff

Immediately after surgery and as they heal, breast implants sometimes ride a little high on your chest because they haven’t quite settled into what is known as the pocket. Alo

As they relax and migrate south a little, the lowest parts of your breasts will round out and create that fullness that breast implant patients desire. This shapely fullness is what a properly fluffed implant makes. You fluff your bed pillows to make them round and your dirty pillows deserve the same treatment.

Minimize the chance of capsular contracture

Some patients’ bodies build an extra thick layer of scar tissue around the implant, attacking this foreign object and trying to force it out. Ignorant, we know. This thick scar tissue can tighten and harden, which can be painful. It may also cause the size and/or shape of the implant to change.

Because capsular contracture can strike unilaterally and women usually strive for symmetrical breasts, this complication occasionally results in an implant exchange or implant removal surgery. (We raved about The Breast Show in Istanbul and told you a little about this complication. You also read about it in The Current Breast Exchange Rate.)

Breast self-massage loosens any tight tissue and promotes blood circulation, breaking up any possible tightening. Healthline gives some excellent massage advice here.

If you touch them more than twice, you’re not playing with them, you’re healing them! In their youth and as they mature, many women are taught to perform self-examinations every month to inspect their breasts for lumps or tender spots. Hopefully you’re still doing this. Much of what you learned can be applied to self-massage after breast implants.

You want your hands to be able to glide over your skin easily, so jump in the shower and use some liquid soap or baby oil. Or if you’re on dry land, use lotion or massage oil. Support the breast with the hand on the same side of the target breast. Your opposite hand will do the massage.

Using your fingers, start high on your pectoral muscle and move in a circular motion. This shouldn’t hurt so don’t use too much pressure. Work your way all around the breast. Repeat on the other breast. Do this massage 1-2 times a day. As with any post-op care, ask your plastic surgeon any questions you have.

If you’re a visual learner, pop over to YouTube and watch our clinic manager Kim’s tutorial.

The last stitch

Recovery from any plastic surgery can be a challenge. From managing surgical drains to making sure you’re eating the right food and fueling your body as it heals, recuperating can be a full time job. Ask your plastic surgeon if breast self-massage is something you should do. We think that if you want the longest shelf life possible for your new girls, consider taking our advice and get hands-on.