Soft Tissue Breast Massage after Breast Augmentation
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Posted On :
Oct-12-2010
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Article Word Count :
741
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For women who have had a breast augmentation, soft tissue breast massage can help prevent capsular contracture, the hardening of scar tissue around implants. New Jersey plastic surgeon Dr. Evan Sorokin explains the benefits of breast massage and why he recommends it for his breast enhancement patients.
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Any surgical procedure carries a certain risk of complications, and with breast implants, one of the complications most on women's minds is the risk of the scar tissue surrounding an implant to thicken and harden following surgery, a condition known as capsular contracture. There are two schools of thought regarding this complication: some believe a patient can help to prevent the complication while others claim that formation of capsular contracture is largely dictated by the way the surgery is performed and other factors outside of a patient's control. Those who agree that patients can play a role in prevention of capsular contracture believe that using specific breast massage techniques will help displace the implant, allowing the surrounding tissue of the breast pocket to remain soft and unrestricting.
I recommend that my breast augmentation patients in New Jersey perform soft tissue breast massage following surgery in order to keep their breasts feeling and looking soft. To better understand why breast massage can benefit breast implant patients, an understanding of capsular contracture is critical.
What Is Capsular Contracture?
Capsular contracture occurs when the surrounding tissue of a breast implant hardens. While this can happen at any time after breast augmentation, it is more common in the first few months following the procedure. A capsule is made up of tissue that naturally forms in the pocket where the implant is placed. In most cases, this tissue cannot be seen or felt, but if the tissue hardens, in can tighten around the breast implant, creating an unnatural appearance and potentially even causing discomfort.
Under the Baker Grading System, there are four grades of capsular contracture. Grade I capsular contracture is when the breast feels and looks soft. In essence, Grade I is case in which no capsular contracture has occurred and the implant appears natural. In Grade II capsular contracture, the breast feels slightly firm, but still appears normal overall. Grade III occurs when the breast feels firm and also looks abnormal. The squeezing of the implant by the capsular tissue generally results in a ball-like appearance. Grade IV means that the breast implant is hard and painful, and appears abnormal. Depending on the case, secondary breast surgery may be performed for patients between Grades II and IV.
What Causes Capsular Contracture?
Although the exact cause of capsular contracture is unclear, certain risk factors are thought to increase the likelihood of a patient developing this complication. These factors include bacterial infection during or after surgery, presence of hematoma (a collection of blood in the surgical area), presence of a seroma (a collection of serous fluid in the surgical area), history of radiation, trauma to the breast, and existence of an autoimmune disorder. Smoking is also believed to increase the risk of capsular contracture. While proper surgical technique can reduce the risk of certain factors like germ infection or formation of a hematoma or seroma, and patient behaviors such as breast implant massage and avoiding smoking can further reduce risk, capsular contracture may still develop with no known cause.
Breast Implant Massage Technique
I advise my breast enhancement patients from Philadelphia and New Jersey to give themselves daily soft tissue breast massages, generally starting 10 days after their procedure. Manipulation of the implants is recommended 5 to 6 times daily for a full 3 months after surgery. The massage is performed by the patient placing their hand under the inframammary fold using the opposite arm as the breast, with the palm facing upward. The patient then rotates the hand upward and pushes the implant toward the top of the breast, displacing the implant. This process is repeated on both breasts. I further recommend rolling the implant back and forth, and squeezing and compressing the implants repeatedly by hand. Ongoing massage is also indicated for at least a minute twice daily after the initial 3 month period.
Some amount of scar tissue will naturally form around any implant or foreign material placed in the body, but the goal of massage is to ensure that this scar tissue does not become excessive or hardened. All women considering breast augmentation should learn more from their surgeon about capsular contracture, including the likelihood of this complication, what techniques the surgeon uses to prevent hardened scar tissue from forming, and what recommendations (such as breast implant massage) they should follow postoperatively to minimize their risk.
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Article Source :
http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Soft Tissue Breast Massage after Breast Augmentation_37376.aspx
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Author Resource :
Board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Evan Sorokin specializes in breast enlargement in Philadelphia. Dr. Sorokin also focuses on breast lift, breast implant revision and breast reduction. His office is located in Cherry Hill, NJ.
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Keywords :
breast augmentation new jersey, breast enhancement philadelphia,
Category :
Health and Fitness
:
Beauty
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