Author Topic: Is Massaging required after surgery??  (Read 1212 times)

Offline KP

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So I had my surgery a on 10/30 and my doctor was great. However he did not mention at all about massaging my chest for recovery purposes, but I keep reading about how important it is.
Im 6 weeks in, would massaging make any difference? 

Offline Miguel Delgado MD

  • Miguel A. Delgado,MD,FACS
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  • Miguel Delgado,MD
    • Gynecomastia Specialist San Francisco, California
Massage is really not required. However, it will help scarring and firmness resolve faster.  Your body will do this on its own. In some cases, scarring is fairly solid and I will inject Kenolog to reduce the firmness.
Miguel A Delgado,MD,FACS
American Society of Plastic Surgeons
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons
Fellow,American College of Surgeons
450 Sutter, San Francisco, California
info@Dr-Delgado.com
www.Dr-Delgado.com
www.Gynecomastia-Specialist.com

Offline Dr. Elliot Jacobs

  • Elliot W. Jacobs, MD, FACS
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    • Gynecomastia Surgery
Every surgeon has his own theory about if and when massaging should be done.  There is no consensus, no right or wrong.

I generally wait for at least six weeks or more before considering massage.  Reason?  IF massage is done early in the healing process, it may stimulate swelling or even (rarely) may cause some bleeding under the skin.  

After 6-8 weeks, massage may help reduce some of the swelling or firmness.  Realize, massage doesn't make scar tissue disappear -- it merely mobilizes the fluid accumulation that accompanies the scar tissue.  Most of the time, if you are simply patient and allow your body to heal, the massage may not be needed at all.

Dr Jacobs
Dr. Jacobs 
Certified: American Board of Plastic Surgery
Fellow: American College of Surgeons
Practice sub-specialty in Gynecomastia Surgery
4800 North Federal Highway
Boca Raton, Florida 33431
561  367 9101
Email:  dr.j@elliotjacobsmd.com
Website:  http://www.gynecomastiasurgery.com
Website:  http://www.gynecomastianewyork.c

Offline Dr. Schuster

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Massaging is optional though I recommend it to all my patients. it is more the "art" of surgery rather than the "science". In my opinion t helps to remodel the scar tissue that begins to form shortly after the surgery. i don't have my patients start until after the third week. I think it helps speed up the recovery and also the return of normal sensation.
Dr. Schuster
Chief, Division of Plastic Surgery Northwest Hospital
Private practice in Baltimore, Maryland
10807 Falls Road
Lutherville, Maryland 21093
410-902-9800
email: info@drschuster.com
website: www.CosmeticSurgeryBaltimore.com


 

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