Find all kinds of information about Breast Implantation to make your decision easier.

Breast Implant Maintenance: Massage and Exercise

I know what you are thinking. Maintenance?! My implants aren't a car! True, but you do have to think about your implants after you get them. Not all surgeons recommend that you do any of the suggestions below, so ask your surgeon about these subjects.

Breast Implant Massage and Compression Exercises

Some breast augmentation surgeons recommend that you perform breast implant massage or compression exercises, or pocket quadrant exercises while some do not. Quadrant exercises are simply gently pushing the implant to the outer most corners of the pocket several times in succession. You move the implant up, down, and to each side. You hold your implant in each position for a few seconds. If your surgeon recommends massage or compression exercises, he or she should show you how to perform these exercises.

You usually start the exercises about a week into your breast augmentation recovery, but some patients are instructed to massage within a few hours of surgery. If this seems too early and causes pain, tell your surgeon and ask for further instructions.

Some surgeons will instruct you to massage your breast implant several times a day until about 3 weeks after your surgery. Then you usually massage them once a day for as long as you have the implants. The purpose of quadrant massage is to keep the scar capsule that naturally forms around any foreign body loose and elastic.

Some surgeons also tell you to do compression exercises as well. You should ask your surgeon about whether he recommends squeezing your implant with moderate pressure to keep the capsule flexible and loose. I am not insisting or suggesting that you do that. You have to abide by your particular surgeon's wishes.

Mammograms with Breast Implants and Breast Self-Examinations

You have to think of mammograms and breast examinations as part of maintenance. We don't have to like this particular step, but you should have one before breast augmentation if you are 35 or over, have a history of breast cancer in your family, or if you just want to feel better about your chances. If you are not getting breast implants, you usually don't have to get a mammogram until age 40 unless breast cancer runs in your family.

Mammography has come a long way, but let's be honest here, it hasn't traveled far enough. It is not pleasant, but it is vital to your health. Check out our section on Mammograms for more information.

Premedication for Dental Work

Some breast augmentation surgeons and dentists recommend that women with breast implants premedicate with antibiotics before they have any dental work done. Some doctors do not agree with this. But I have spoken with a few oral surgeons who also have breast implants who recommend it. Premedication with antibiotics is a standard recommendation for people who have had other types of medical implants, such as pacemakers and artificial joints.

Why premedicate with antibiotics? Your mouth is naturally full of bacteria no matter how wonderful your brushing habits. When you have your teeth cleaned or have dental work done, bacteria is introduced into your bloodstream via tiny lacerations in your gums. Bacteria can travel through the bloodstream and can latch onto areas of weakness or the natural capsules that form around foreign bodies, such as breast implants. It is possible for these bacteria to set up an infection.

An infection would be bad enough, but some believe that bacteria that settle into the pocket but that don’t cause and out-and-out infection can lead to capsular contracture. This theory is not universally accepted, but I have spoken with women who recall having had dental work done before they developed capsular contracture.

Ask your surgeon or your dentist (or both) about premedication before dental work. If you are told to premedicate, you will be given a prescription for a few antibiotic pills to be taken the day of your dental appointment. Some dentists also recommend taking antibiotics for 3 days after the appointment as well.

Wear a Well-Fitted Bra After Breast Implant Surgery

Wearing a good, supportive bra with breast implants is imperative! You may not think of wearing a bra as breast implants maintenance, but a good supportive bra is essential to the upkeep of your breasts. You paid good money to have great breasts, so don't ruin it by going braless all of the time. Check out our section on getting a post breast implants bra that fits.

MRIs and Endoscopic Evaluation

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that women who have silicone gel-filled implants have an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done 3 years after their breast augmentation and every 2 years after that. A silicone implant can leak without symptoms of any kind. An MRI can spot leakage of silicone gel that does not show up on mammograms. This is not needed for saline-filled implants, because they deflate quickly and visibly after any rupture.

Some doctors also perform an endoscopic examination of the breast pocket for women with silicone implants to check the pocket for silicone and the implants for any ruptures. Other surgeons think this is a bit excessive. I think this is a good idea if you have silicone-filled implants and you think you may have a rupture.