My first massage with implants..my detailed report!

[courtneyclv]

Hi everyone,

So if you have been reading my posts, you will see that I have been SOOOOOO sore and tight it's not even funny. I was good for two weeks...but after going back to a physical job, I feel like I am stretched rubber band! OUCH! My upper back and chest muscles are so tight that I cry every morning because I can't even put my shoulders back. I have my DH massage my back throughout the day and even ask my coworkers.

So..I scheduled a massage at my Massage Envy I have my membership to.

I spoke to the therapist beforehand and told her all about my situation.

Attempt #1 She came to the room with this plastic-y pillow thing with holes to put your boobies! I attemped to use it but it made me hurt in a few minutes. It was thing big pillow thing that had material/pillow, in between where your cleavage was. The problem was that there was about 3 inches of this material that is suppose to go IN BETWEEN your boobs! No way! I have about 1-2 fingers worth in between my boobs (as you can kind of see in my siggy pic) so I could feel the muscles and breast getting all stretched out, pushed outward. It felt awful and hurt. I felt poking somewhere, so we tried something else.

Attempt #2 The therapist then took this big boobie pillow thing away and we just put towels under me. Like shaped in a '3' One was between my cleavage (more narrow) two under my armpits and one across my chest horizontally. That was MUCH better and I didn't feel a thing in the boob area. I was lifted off of the table and didn't squish anything.

The therapist worked on my back and did that side of my body. She also explained to me WHY I am prone to slouching and we did some stretching exercises to open up my sterum, and shoulder muscles.

I flipped over and she then worked on my chest muscles. She explained to me why my chest muscles hurt from holding a tray, why the muscles are tight, and how I can get everything to relax and stretch out more. She then actually, almost like a light deep tissue, did my chest/pec muscles. She didn't massage my actual boobs, but went around the sides and the upper area where I am top heavy and in between my cleavage. (she didn't do under them where my incisions are) The therapist was doing a stretching, holding motion with her fingers to help relax the muscles. She did one side and then the other and I could TOTALLY tell that the first side was more relaxed.

We then did some other stretching exercises that helped me raise my arms and put my shoulders back more.

I just got home and I definatly feel a little tender, but much more flexible. I just rolled my shoulders and they move very easily now. I am drinking a gallon of water and will take a hot bath and stretch before bed. My therapist told me to do this so that I feel better tomorrow.

I'll let you all know how I feel in the morning. The therapist also told me that by massaging the pec muscles, they will relax and will help the implant drop out of my armpit area. I was so impressed that I booked another session on Monday.

So in conclusion, it IS possible to get a massage with new implants if you are careful when laying on your stomach. If massages help me be pain free and more loosened up, I will highly recommend it since many JBI members are having the same issue I am. We shall see after another session!

[zephyr love]

thanks for letting us know your experience!!!! sounds like it went pretty well after settling in

i have been contemplating getting a massage as well but was wondering how i was gonna lay on my stomach the entire time!! i know my spa does breast massage but i wanted a back one as well.

i'm gonna call them and see if i can get one. lol

[Tori]

Hey Courtney,

Thanks for the good info. I never thought about what it would take to get a painless massage so close after a BA. Amazingly enough, I am able to lie stomach down with no pain. It feels a little weird at first, but I get used to it. I am glad that your massage therapist was willing to work with you.

Massaging the pec muscles to get the implants to drop sounds like a good idea. I will have to look into what particular massages does that. My righty is still holding on like you wouldn't believe. BTW, you are still looking good.

Tori

[nbdancer86]

Thanks for the detailed report! I was just thinking about that today and whether or not massages were possible post-BA, and its nice to know that they are

[courtneyclv]

Oh they are possible, but let me tell you... I am two hours past it and I am feeling sore already. She did a lot of digging around in the pec area. But..that is what I had to do. In time my muscles should get looser I hope!

She said that the more water I drink, the more I pee, the more toxins will get removed from my body, and the muscles will be more lubicated..and that will help me not get AS sore tomorrow.

[wocky]

Great, detailed report Courtney! Very helpful to many (including me), I'm sure!

[kristym]

Thanks very helpfull

[courtneyclv]

Hi everyone,

So how do I feel today after having my first post-op massage??

I am really sore..BUT I am more flexible. I can tell a difference in how my arms are moving, how my shoulders feel when I stretch and make circles with them. I am not sure yet if my massage helped with my actual pain (the tightness of my chest and back muscles) since I am sore now but I am stilll going back for more on Monday. Like I said, the therapist didn't massage my boobs or push or squish the implant around like I am suppose to do BUT did all around my ribs, cleavage, my upper boobie part ant armpit area....

so far so good..at least I am able to stand up straighter!

[Barbara Ann]

I hardly had any tightness and soreness like you describe and I credit it to the arm exercises my ps instructed me to do, starting in the recovery room. I did 5 sets every hour for the first 5 days or so. And they were wonderful! The stretching helped lossen me up alot. It's unfortunate your job is such that it is causing your discomfort. But I'm sure it can only get better once you start dropping.

I had my first massage at around 3 weeks also at Massage Envy. I go to the same therapist so I had discussed with her what I was having done and when I went in after my ba she had supports ready for me. When face down, they rested under my shoulders to help relieve some of the pressure on the boobs. I had no problems with discomfort laying down or turning. Another option is laying sideways.

[blackviolet]

A massage sounds fantastic. I need to go back to the chiropractor, and I'm not sure how that's going to work out.

[courtneyclv]

My second massage helped me drop! I can see a difference in my photos by about a 1/2 inch! My therapist gave me deep tissue in my upper back and pec area. Amazing! I'm going back for more next week.

I also have my DH man handle my boobies everynight, moving them up and down and side to side. It isn't comfortable and I have the face of death (LOL) but it has been working to help loosen me up. I thought it was the lighting and what angle I was taking photos at, but do believe I relaxed a tiny baby bit.

I am going to work tonight and hope my muscles don't squeeze them back up there!

[yasminv1]

I love the new pics. You look amazing! That's great news that the massage is helping. I will definitely look into getting a weekly massage after my BA. Do you know how soon after the BA you can start getting massages?

[courtneyclv]

I asked my PS if I could get a massage, about 3 weeks post-op, and he said it was alright if it helped. I just made sure (like my first post) that I was propped up and didn't feel any pain or pressure. I feel tight again today! Yesterday was like, "ahhhhh..relaxation" Will have my DH massage my back for today.