Richard V. Dowden, M.D., C.M., F.A.C.S.

Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, Inc.
6770 Mayfield Road, Suite 410
(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
(440) 449-7470


Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about
breast enlargement:

What about massaging the breasts to keep them soft?

The woman or her partner can feel free to touch, squeeze, and massage the breasts in any maneuver that would be done to a non-operated breast, and the implants can withstand a great amount of pressure and force. However, that is not what is meant by "massage" as a medical term.

Medical breast massage is a specific and deliberate type of manipulation of the breast, done for the purpose of controlling the internal scar tissue to counteract hardening, and helping the breasts to look and feel as soft as possible. It works by stretching the developing scar tissue capsule. The more the scar capsule is stretched, the softer the breast feels, up to a point.

There are two basic types of massage - compression and displacement. In compression, the implant is compressed in one area, which causes it to push outwards at other areas, stretching the capsule. In displacement, the implant is pushed against a given part of the capsule, to try to stretch the capsule in that area.

Both methods work well, if done properly, but I usually prefer the compression method. The reason is that it is too easy for the patient to do the displacement type massage incorrectly. That is, massage only works if the implant is pressing against the inside of its capsule, but what often happens instead is that the implant and its capsule are just pushed around on the chest, accomplishing nothing.

The massage methods I prefer are either a forceful pinching from side to side, or a strong compression against the chest, several times each day.

Some types of implant are best not massaged, at least not soon after surgery, and this is the case with textured implants. Massaging these too early can interfere with whatever resistance against hardening that the texturing itself may provide. Also, when implants are placed under the muscle, the muscle itself seems to do some massaging on its own, so external massage is not usually necessary.

Some implant manufacturers recommend against any massage. Their concern is that the patient may not perform it properly and might put excessive forces on the implant. From the manufacturer's point of view, they would prefer for you to have a big operation for hardening (for which they bear no expense) rather than have a smaller operation for a failed implant (which gives them some expense under the warranty).

Warning: Do not start any program of forceful medical breast massage without specific instructions from your plastic surgeon.


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6770 Mayfield Road, Suite 410
(Mayfield Heights) Cleveland, Ohio 44124
(440) 449-7470

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Last Update: 7:27 PM on 01/01/2009
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