Like all surgical procedures, breast augmentation has it own risks. Capsular contracture occurs when the immune system views an implant as foreign invader and forms a scar tissue around it to isolate it from surrounding tissue. This scar tissue can harden and contract, giving the breasts an overly firm and artificial appearance. In severe cases, it may cause fluid to leak from the implant. Most plastic surgeons will recommend breast massage and compression exercises to counteract the hardening and shrinking of scar tissue around an implant to ensure for the implant to move naturally and keep the breast looking natural.
Compression Exercise Overview
During breast augmentation surgery, the plastic surgeon creates a new space inside the breast envelope. The new space is typically under the pectoralis muscle and the lower portion of the breast. Immediately after the surgery, the immune system forms a scar capsule around the implant. This typically decreases the size of the space created for the new implant. Compression exercise are recommended to modify the shape of the capsule and ensure a large enough space for the implant to move freely in. Compression exercises are typically prescribed immediately after surgery and should be continued several times a day for the first few few weeks and then reduced to once a day for the duration of the implant, since a capsule can form at anytime. Your plastic surgeon may also recommend massages to keep the scar tissue soft and pliable and give the breast a natural appearance.
Medial Compression Exercise
This compression exercise should be performed immediately after surgery. This exercise helps you achieve a good cleavage by softening the medial capsule and pushing your implants close to your breast bone and the origin of your pectoral muscles. Begin by crossing your arms at each side of your breast. Place your hands on the outside of your breast in a cupping fashion and gently compress the breast toward the center. Hold this position for two seconds. The implants will move toward each other and stretch the medial portion of the capsule. Repeat this compression exercise five more times, twice daily.
Upward Compression Exercise
After a breast augmentation surgery, gravity pulls the implant down while the pectoral muscles push the implant sideways and downward. Upward compression exercises help to maintain the space above the implant and keep the space wide enough for the implant. Since the capsule is closely tethered to the skin, hold the capsule in place by holding the skin in one position. While holding the capsule in place, use your other hand to compress the lower portion of the breast. Hold this position for two seconds. The implant will move upward from the point of compression and you should see fullness in the upper portion of the breast. Perform two sets of five repetitions twice daily.
Consideration
In addition to upward and medial compression exercises, you can move the implant to the outermost corners of the pocket as well as up, down, right and left. This will help to prevent the buildup of scar tissue around the implant. These exercises should be started, at the latest, one week after your breast augmentation surgery. You can perform two sets of 10 repetitions once daily for the first six weeks and one set of 10 repetitions, once daily, indefinitely. Remember to use adequate force while performing these exercises, however, do not squeeze your breast. Be sure to speak with your plastic surgeon before starting a compression routine.
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