massaging textured implants

[penny]

I am just curious as to what exactly the fear is with massaging textured implants. Is it just a certain kind of massage that is bad? Or massaging too soon? I hear that most advise against it, but what could really happen?

Thanks for your time!

[Nanny66]

From my little understanding of it, I believe they are textured so that they can adhere to the pockets etc, and so , in theory, by massaging, you would be reversing the effect of them....I have textured though, and I was told to massage, which I do each evening for about 5 seconds ! I also have to push them outwards and inwards to keep the pockets open either side...I often wonder why he didn't just give me smooth ones lol

[penny]

Thanks Anne...I have textured silicone and am almost 1.5 months PO, and was told to do massages just the other day, too, but it is more like pushing them together like a bra would do, so I don't see how it could hurt if a bra doesn't.

[Dr. Casper]

Implant massage following BA has been encouraged as a way to prevent Capsular Contracture. It is more commonly practiced with smooth implants because textured implants adhere to the surrounding tissue and are supposed to decrease capsular contracture by this mechanism. While massaging textured implants is not necessarily bad, it is counterproductive to the theory of the implant adherence. If carried to the extreme, one could encourage non-adherence and possibly a seroma (fluid around the implant).