Breast Exercises After Augmentation

One of the biggest risks that women who have undergone breast augmentation have is capsular contracture. This condition occurs when the body forms scar tissue around the implant. While this is a normal defense mechanism for a body that has suffered cuts and other intrusions, this collection of scar tissue can cause the implant to appear misshapen and otherwise feel unnatural.

The tightening and hardening scar tissue can even cause pain in some women and requires further surgery to correct the problem. Capsular contracture occurs in 5% of patients who undergo breast augmentation and certain factors, such as severe breast trauma and implant placement, can increase the risk for developing capsular contracture.

To reduce the risk of capsular contracture, plastic surgeons often recommend a series of exercises in order to reduce the chance of any scar tissue hardening around the implant. These exercises are usually recommended about a week after the procedure is completed, although some surgeons recommend starting these exercises as soon as possible. These exercises don’t require a lot of time to be invested and they are also easy to do.

Massaging the implants help keep any forming scar tissue from hardening up, reducing the risks of developing capsular contracture. There are two types of massage exercises that are commonly performed by patients. The first is compression massage, which involves pushing down on the implant in one area, causing it to bulge out in other areas. This essentially stretches the capsule, preventing it from tightening and closing in on the implant.

Compression massaging is considered the easier of the two exercises for patients to perform, due to the lower margin of error. On the other hand, displacement massage is performed by gently pushing the implant around within the capsule, stretching the tissue sac. This form of massage is considered to be not as effective as compression, as the patient can easy and incorrectly push the implant and the capsule around the breast tissue, negating the benefits of the massage.

Initially, these exercises can be a bit painful, but the pain will gradually decrease as the breast area recovers from the procedure. This should be done three to four times a day every day during the first three weeks after the procedure. Afterwards, this can be reduced to just once per day.

The compression exercises above are recommended for those who have received smooth implants. If you have received textured implants, then your surgeon may advise against the above massage exercises. Since natural breast tissue is intended to adhere to textured implants, messaging them may interrupt the growth process, causing them to not grow onto the implants properly. This could possibly cause further complications. Surgeons also advise against massaging if the implants were inserted under the muscle, as it may cause the implants to rupture due to the extreme pressure.

For those who performed rigorous exercise such as running or upper body strength training prior to having breast augmentation, it may be tempting to get back into the routine as soon as possible. But this can do damage to the implants and your body, causing it to not heal properly. In fact, it is highly recommended that you do not do any of these heavy exercises for at least 6 to 8 weeks after the procedure. Walking and light aerobic exercise can be performed 1 to 2 weeks afterwards.

It’s a good idea to have a well-supportive sports bra when performing these exercises. Be sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions when performing these massaging exercises. There may be different variations, depending on the type of implants received and their placement. Not following the surgeon’s advice could present complications that require corrective measures to be taken.