Post-operative Instructions

Post operative care is outlined in separate section beginning on page 6 of this document.

KEEPING MY BREASTS SOFT: The human body's natural reaction to implants, regardless of type, is to surround them with a layer of scar tissue.  This happens each and every time.  Scar tissue has a natural tendency to contract and compress the implant, which may cause the external breast to appear unnaturally firm (such scar tissue may cause one or both breasts to be painful and to look uneven). In addition, particularly in patients with a small volume of breast tissue initially, surface wrinkling may be evident, especially in patients who choose to have textured surface, saline filled implants, and in those with implants placed above the pectoral muscles.

The surgeon always places each breast implant in a pocket or space, which is larger than the implant itself; as long as this pocket stays larger than the implant, your breasts should remain soft and look natural. 

In order to minimize the degree of scar contracture that your body develops around the implant we recommend active exercise and daily implant manipulation (i.e. “breast massage”) as will be described to you by the surgeon or the office staff. These exercises must be continued on a daily basis. Should breast hardness develop, a corrective operation may be required to remove or release the scar tissue in order to soften the breast; such secondary operations are not always successful.