Non-surgical treatment for high breast implants is effective only if it includes guided ultrasound treatment, targeted implant massage, and compression rather than just massage. Massages for hard breast implants alone can cause tissue softening for a temporary period. However, scientific studies have found that it does not influence the capsule long-term.
A combination approach, coordinated by a surgeon, offers the greatest chance of getting those high implants right without undergoing surgery again.
It is not uncommon for patients to experience some distress when they see their implants higher than expected in the first few weeks following surgery. In most cases, it’s a part of natural recovery. On the other hand, a tight capsule may be responsible for elevating your implants.
This article will shed light on why you have high implants, why massage doesn’t work, and what a non-surgical treatment for high breast implants program actually involves before revision surgery becomes necessary.
Why Do Breast Implants Sit High After Surgery?
Implants are intentionally placed high by surgeons because of their expectation that gravity and recovery will pull them down into place. During the first few weeks, swelling and tight chest muscles elevate the implant, and most implants are placed after four to twelve weeks as the inflammation subsides.
If positioning hasn’t shifted well past that window, a tightening capsule may be the cause instead.
Every breast implant naturally develops a thin layer of scar tissue around it as part of the body’s normal healing response. Surgeons classify this condition using the Baker Grading System.
- Grade I: No change in the appearance and feel of the breast.
- Grade II: Some firmness is felt in the breast, but there is no change in appearance.
- Grade III: More firmness and distortion in the appearance and positioning of the breast.
- Grade IV: Hardening of the breast, along with pain and distortion.
An implant that won't drop, combined with firmness, usually points to Grade III or IV rather than routine swelling.
Does Massage Alone Fix High or Hard Breast Implants?
Massages for hard breast implants are traditionally recommended following breast enhancement surgery, but their success rate highly depends on the cause of having high or hard implants. Some research has not indicated any considerable difference between women who perform massages and those who don’t when it comes to capsular contracture, thus making massages an incomplete non-surgical treatment for high breast implants.
Massage may soften temporarily through relaxing surrounding tissues, but it does not break up the hard capsule permanently. The scar tissue can act like an overstretched rubber band that tightens again once the effects of massage wear off.
- Massage can be helpful for some patients during the early healing process, where swelling or muscle tightness can affect the implant position.
- It may not improve firmness caused by capsular contracture.
- It does not apply to all types of implants, such as textured and shaped implants.
A Combined Non-Surgical Treatment for High Breast Implants
High or hard implants usually require a combination of interventions, which is the reason why Non-surgical treatment for high breast implants utilizes ultrasound, massage, and compression, rather than any single technique alone.
Targeted Ultrasound Therapy:
Therapeutic low-frequency ultrasound treatment by a professional therapist is designed to create gradual changes in capsule tissue that massage cannot access. Specific equipment is important because general diagnostic ultrasound is not studied for this purpose.
Specific Implant Massage and Pocket Expansion:
Massage for hard breast implants works best once ultrasound starts to soften the tissue envelope surrounding the implant. It is all due to the specific massage and pocket expansion procedures that can direct the implant to its intended placement.
Compression and Static Splinting Therapy:
A properly fitting compression garment ensures continuous pressure so that the implant does not ride upward between sessions.
Most existing capsules require more visits compared to prevention plans, which are usually initiated earlier. Early commencement of therapy in response to firmness leads to more favorable results compared to delayed commencement.
Conclusion
High-profile implants are widely used and can naturally sit higher, especially during early healing, without always indicating a problem that needs treatment. The most important aspect that needs to be determined is whether it is the result of regular swelling or if a tightening capsule has formed, since the two causes call for different responses.
Massages for high breast implants can be considered a reasonable starting point but rarely a complete solution to your problem. If you’re navigating high or hard implant positioning.
Aspen After Surgery Center provides online consultation services for all patients anywhere, in-person treatment at their Coral Springs, Florida location, and a Fast Track program for out-of-town patients.
Call 1-877-277-3615 to see whether a non-surgical treatment for high breast implants would be the right fit for you.