The Breast Massage after Implant and Explant plastic surgery class will focus on evidence-based practices for using manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) and other types of massage to help clients reduce pain and swelling after surgery involving breast implants. We will focus on a few different types of surgery, including:
- Breast implant surgery for cosmetic reasons
- Breast implant surgery for gender affirmation
- Implant-based reconstruction after mastectomy
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Removal of breast implants (explant) for cosmetic and health reasons, including total capsulectomy for breast implant illness
Around 300,000 people have breast implant surgery each year in the United States. People have a variety of reasons that motivate them to get breast implant related surgery to change the appearance of their breasts.
- People can have a breast lift after aging, weight loss, pregnancy and/or breastfeeding has changed the appearance of their breasts.
- Breast implant surgery may also be a part of gender affirmation surgery or breast cancer reconstruction.
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Breast implants do not last forever, and every year many people choose to have their breast implants removed and replaced with new implants in the same size, a different size or no implants at all.
Surgeons have been incorporating MLD into postoperative care for breast implant surgery for over a dozen years. The ‘Cosmetic Bootcamp Primer: Comprehensive Aesthetic Management’ states that “manual lymphatic drainage and capsule massage are employed to accelerate resolution of tissue edema.”
A few words about Capsular Contracture
In class, I will discuss the different theories behind what may cause capsular contracture. Since the treatment protocol for capsular contracture includes methods like ultrasound, cold laser and pharmaceuticals, which are out of the scope of practice of a massage therapist, I will not demonstrate a treatment protocol for capsular contracture. We will look at the types of medications (and their side effects) that clients may be taking to prevent and treat capsular contracture.
Let's take a look at what we will learn in class:
Research on MLD
We will look at research on the effects of MLD that you can share with clients and plastic surgeons.
“MLD therapy reduces inflammation by lowering the release of inflammatory factors, such as prostaglandins, bradykinin and histamine. It also decreases the production of inflammatory cells, such as neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes”
(Antoniak et al., 2022).
Protocols & Paperwork
Using the protocols provided, you should be able to design a sample session for a client recovering from breast surgery based on your current knowledge and skills.
The Paperwork section of class includes downloadable copies of:
- Breast massage permission form
- Massage Therapy Care Plan to send to the plastic surgeon
Feel Confident in your Skills
- Discussing complications and experiences of patients after breast surgery
- Explaining contraindications to post-surgery breast massage
- Describing the stages of wound healing and matching the massage intervention to the client’s current stage of wound healing
- Describing massage modalities that can reduce swelling and other side effects of surgery
Link to purchase this class
is below the course curriculum
- Course Description
- What is Massage?
- What to expect in this course (11:17)
- Why do clients get breast implant related surgery? (4:32)
- Why do clients benefit from massage after breast implant / explant surgery?
- Massage can reduce anxiety before and after surgery
- Massage can reduce pain after breast surgery
- Bottom Line
- Why do people get breast implants for cosmetic reasons?
- Complications - hematoma, seroma, calcium deposit
- What do people get breast implant replacement for cosmetic reasons?
- Capsular Contracture (5:38)
- Capsular Contracture and Mast Cells
- Capsular Contracture and Silicone
- Capsular Contracture, Implant Placement and Biofilm
- A surgeon’s perspective on capsular contracture and CC rating system
- Capsular Contracture Treatments
- Implant Rupture
- Bottoming Out / Double Bubble
- Moving breast implant placement from subglandular to submuscular
- Slide Down Deformity and Waterfall Deformity
- Breast implant surgery after massive weight loss
- Breast lift with breast implant
- What complications are seen in each of the different types of mastopexy?
- Bottom Line
- Why do people have reconstructive surgery after breast cancer?
- Mastectomy & Reconstruction
- Acellular Dermal Matrix (ADM) Products
- Wound Healing and Complications
- Radiation, Neurotoxin and Capsular Contracture
- Extrusion
- Complications of breast reconstruction using liposuction and fat transfer to the breast
- Bottom Line
- Self-Massage Protocols
- Sample 30 minute Breast Implant Massage Session
- Surgeons’ instructions for breast massage after breast implant
- Why do clients book a massage after breast implant surgery? (10:20)
- MLD after breast implant related surgery to reduce swelling
- MLD after surgery to reduce stress and pain
- Pleasant Touch to reduce pain
- Surgeon protocol for postoperative massage after breast implant surgery
- How to provide a customized massage after breast implant surgery (15:22)
- Massage session after surgery vs. typical relaxation massage session
- Draping and Positioning (12:02)
- Breast Implant Massage Technique Videos and Protocol (24:02)
- Stages of Wound Healing
- What types of massage are best at each stage of wound healing?
- What we may feel during the massage after breast surgery
- Contraindications to massage (4:19)
- What information are clients receiving in their postoperative visits?
- Bottom Line
- Why do people choose explant surgery? (7:43)
- What is BII? (5:24)
- What is BIA-ALCL and squamous cell carcinoma?
- What do people think may be causing BII?
- Autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome induced by adjuvants (ASIA)
- Silicone migration and silicone-associated lymphadenopathy
- Do some types of implants cause more symptoms than others?
- Biofilm
- Mast Cells
- BII symptoms are similar to those of ME/CFS and Fibromyalgia
- Why are people getting breast implant revision surgery?
- Bottom Line
- Acquired macromastia and pain with large breast implants
- Tissue affected by Breast Implant Illness
- Breast Explant Massage Technique Videos (22:37)
- Sample 30 minute Breast Explant Massage Session (no fat transfer)
- Sample 60 minute Breast Explant Massage Session (no fat transfer)
- Reference Images
- How might Manual Lymphatic Drainage help?
- MLD for removing waste and reducing stress levels
- MLD for autoimmune issues
- MLD for breast edema
- MLD and Effleurage Strokes
- MLD - a Surgeon’s Perspective
- What else may be helpful for clients?
- Wrinkles and dents after breast implant removal
- Massage for pain reduction and balancing hormone levels
- Scar massage of the surgery incisions
- Adhesions (9:41)
- Pulling, Stretching and Negative Compression
- Massage after fat transfer to the breast
- How do clients find out about massage after breast implant related surgery?
- Bottom Line
About Your Instructor
Kathleen Helen Lisson uses her lymphedema therapy, massage, mindfulness and health coaching skills to help people recover from surgery and optimize self-care in the midst of chronic illness.
She holds a Bachelors of Applied Science degree in Massage Therapy, is board certified in therapeutic massage and bodywork and is a lymphedema therapist.
She has spoken at conferences and symposia for the American Venous and Lymphatic Society (AVLS), Fat Disorders Resource Society (FDRS), International Society of Lymphology (ISL), Lymphedema Association of Manitoba, Lymphatic Education and Resource Network (LE&RN), MLD UK, National Lymphedema Network (NLN) and Society for Oncology Massage (S4OM).
She is a NCBTMB approved continuing education provider and the author of Plastic Surgery Recovery Handbook and Stress Reduction for Lymphedema.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe popular plastic surgery procedures involving breast implants
- Discuss complications and experiences of patients after breast surgery
- Explain contraindications to post-surgery breast massage
- List and describe the stages of wound healing
- Describe massage modalities that can reduce swelling and other side effects of surgery
Course outcome:
After completing the class, students will be able to design a sample session for a client recovering from breast surgery based on their current knowledge and skills.
LEARNING OUTCOME: Students will demonstrate familiarity with breast implant related plastic surgery procedures, including their side effects and how massage can benefit client recovery.
This class qualified for 8.5 CE. I am a NCBTMB approved CE provider.