Dear Tina
   It is quite normal after breast augmentation for the whole area to have a feeling of tightness, especially if larger implants have been placed. As the skin gently relaxes, the tightness gets less
and less. The first 2 weeks are the tightest but it can take 2 or 3 months for the feeling to go away
completely.
   A feeling of numbness in the skin can also be present. Again, this goes away over a few weeks.
Nipple numbness is rare but if it occurs it is usually temporary. Nipple hypersensitivity is much
more common and this goes away with time and massage.
   These feelings of tightness and numbness can make the massage techniques painful, especially
in the beginning. However, it is very important to start early (within a few days of surgery) in order to
keep the implant pockets soft and supple. At the start, gentle exercises may be all that can be
tolerated but by 2 or 3 weeks, most patients can be much more vigorous.
   I recommend to my patients that they do the massage exercises for 5-10 minutes twice a day. The
longer you do them, the softer the implants will be so I recommend continuing for at least 2 or 3
months. Even after this, it may be advantageous to continue doing the exercises daily, perhaps as
part of the showering routine.
Dr. Nicolas M. Hynes, M.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.S.C
www.hynesplasticsurgery.com