Recent Breast Implants

[Scarlite]

I just got a call from a colleague of mine about working with a client who recently had breast implants. The only experience I have had with this was about two years ago when a hotel outcall client asked me not to use any deep pressure while working on the upper torso because she was still quite sensitive after having had her implants done.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions with respect to working with someone who has had recent implants? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Kyle L]

Do you know how recent? 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months?? How recent the surgery was might make a difference in how you approach the massage.

Angie

 

[sarasmile]

Hey There,

Depending on what seforum.xxxe of recovery they are at and their own pain tolerance, massaging around the scared area CAN be good to prevent scare tissue from building up. Make sure they have their doctors OK on massage

This is not a breast massage, it is more of a scare and surrounding muscle massage, but if you are a male therapist, this may be to close for comfort, depending on your relationship with the client.

J

 

[HolidayOnTheBuses]

Do you know how recent? 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months?? How recent the surgery was might make a difference in how you approach the massage.

Angie

Good question! I believe she had the surgery approximately two weeks ago. What would be the difference in the way that would approach working with someone who had breast implants two weeks ago vs. six weeks ago?

 

[nipples kostalakis]

I almost always have a 4-week rule for working on people post-surgically (at least v near the incision). I'm not sure any more where I got that -- maybe Robyn will weigh in on this too.

 

[anony]

I would go 6 weeks with doctors permission, and then even so, I would not apply any pressure to the back or even have her supine at all until the MD approves. You don't want her to blame you for screwing up her implants...

After the approval, I would make sure to raise the face cradle high enough to fully support her neck, then put a rolled towel under her breasts for her comfort, and since she is going to have the "torpedo syndrome" it may be uncomfortable for her to lay prone at all for a while.

 

[B-Easy]

I would go 6 weeks with doctors permission, and then even so, I would not apply any pressure to the back or even have her supine at all until the MD approves. You don't want her to blame you for screwing up her implants...

After the approval, I would make sure to raise the face cradle high enough to fully support her neck, then put a rolled towel under her breasts for her comfort, and since she is going to have the "torpedo syndrome" it may be uncomfortable for her to lay prone at all for a while.

I agree. We won't work on anyone until at least 6 wks post-surgery. Even then, only with MD's written authorization. I would also add that this is when body cushions come in handy. She's not going to want to lay on her stomach and have you push on her back any time soon.

After 6 wks, then I would recommend doing lymphatics to help clear the area. Also cross-fiber around the incision to reduce scar tissue build-up. Probably one of her big problems will be mid-back pain due to the increase in weight to the front.

Angie

 

[leviathan74666]

-- maybe Robyn will weigh in on this too.

Happy to.
It, for me will be about 4-6 weeks post op. Unless you plan to treat her chest area as a local CX. Ex: she could have legs, side work etc. No work on pecs ant chest muscles, and no lying prone until tolerated.
Also depends on:
-whether implants are above or below the mucle
-location of incision(umbilicus, areolar, breast fold etc)
-how big they actually went compared to before surgery.(we have some tiny women getting 500+ cc implants which will cause their own pain with taut tissue)
-How well they heal.
With all sp Breast Augs I would use a rolled handtowel between and underneath their breasts while prone for comfort.
AFTER a scar has healed(post remodleing phase) it is ok and good to work the scar. Before that, could cause dehiscence(splitting apart).
Most closing sutures for breast augs are either vicryl, monocryl or PDS.
I've linked info for them from J&J. All have similar healing times(when absorbed completely). I would adhere to their guidelines so as not to interrupt the healing process. They all vary from 90-120 days.

http://www.jnjgateway.com/public/USENG/6923Coated_VICRYL_polyglactin_910_Suture.pdf

http://www.jnjgateway.com/public/USENG/6950MONOCRYL_poliglecaprone_25_Sterile_Synthetic_Absorbable_Suture.pdf

http://www.jnjgateway.com/public/USENG/7025PDS_II_polydioxanone_Suture_Dyed_and_Clear_Monofilament.pdf

 

[midnight_ashes]

-- maybe Robyn will weigh in on this too.

Happy to.
It, for me will be about 4-6 weeks post op. Unless you plan to treat her chest area as a local CX. Ex: she could have legs, side work etc. No work on pecs ant chest muscles, and no lying prone until tolerated.

It seems like the general consensus here is to wait at least 4-6 weeks. After reading all of these posts I called my colleague back and asked a few more questions. It turns out that this woman had her surgery 2 1/2 weeks ago and it most definitely was her doctor who recommended that that she receive massage on the scar tissue.

I would also appreciate it if you could please explain to me exactly what you mean by "local CX." The medical terminology references I checked had Cx as either an abbreviation for cervix or for chest x-ray film. Thanks.

 

[Mike Hunt]

I believe it's used in this instance as "Local Contraindication."
But I could be wrong... :roll:

 

[Fashionislove]

wow - you are all so smart! the way you jumped right into this topic and shared all of that information was great! i was just eavesdropping on this but i wanted to tell you all how smart you are! it's great to have a community like this
amanda

 

[Resaaa]

I believe it's used in this instance as "Local Contraindication."
But I could be wrong... :roll:

Thanks! I think that you are probably correct. In the context that "local CX" was used, it makes sense that it would mean "Local Contraindication."

I don't recall ever seeing CX used as an abbreviation for contraindication and I would be curious to know the origin of this use. I just did another "Google" search, this time for "CX + Contraindication" and after taking a quick look at the sites that came up on the first page it looks like many of them discuss child birth issues and are using CX as an abbreviation for cervix.

 

[supertop]

wow - you are all so smart! the way you jumped right into this topic and shared all of that information was great! i was just eavesdropping on this but i wanted to tell you all how smart you are! it's great to have a community like this
amanda

I echo your sentiments completely amanda. It is fantastic to have a community like this with so many knowledgeable massage therapists who are so willing to share such useful information with colleagues who are scattered all over the globe. 8)

One of the things that is so great about being a massage therapist, but at the same time so challenging is that there is always something new to learn. Perhaps if I got a call last year about working with someone who had breast implants I might have just said I didn't have enough experience and passed. Now that I have access to this wonderful MassagePlanetL resource I'm more open to working a bit out of my comfort zone and doing a little extra homework online to prepare for working with new clients.

 

[?Who Am I?]

Hi, yes CX was for contraindication. It was meant to be CI.
I am moving soon and putting in way too much OT..sorry, I was tired and trying to type as fast as my mind would allow.

Scar massage is BENEFICIAL...AFTER the remodeling phase.

Robyn


some info on seforum.xxxes of wound healing
http://www.medicaledu.com/phases.htm

http://www.breasthealthonline.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=48926

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/gui/show/NCT00175344

http://www.rehabpub.com/features/892001/3.asp