Massaging your scars is important. It keeps the tissue around the incision loose so it doesn’t “stick” to the tissue underneath. Wait until after your skin has healed before you start massaging your scar. Your skin will be healed when the edges of the scar look pinkish, are well closed with no gaps, and have no drainage.
If you’re having radiation treatments, you may be told to stop doing scar massage during your treatments, because it may be uncomfortable to do. You can start again when your skin has healed from your radiation treatments.
You can do these massages on breast, chest, and armpit scars. Massage the scar for 5 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day. Keep doing these massages every day for 6 months to 1 year after surgery.
You may feel some pulling or burning. Loosening the scar may be more comfortable to do while the skin is warm (e.g., after a shower). Make sure your skin is dry so your fingers don’t slide while you’re trying to do the massage.
Towards the scar
- Place the flat part of your fingers above the scar. Move the skin and the tissue under it downward, towards the scar, but not over it. Hold for a few seconds. Make sure that you press enough to feel the scar “move” under your fingertips.
- Place your fingers below the scar. Move the skin and tissue under it upwards, towards the scar. Hold for a few seconds.
- Move your fingers along to the next section of scar, and repeat steps 1 and 2 until you’ve massaged all along the scar from both directions.
Back and forth
- Put the flat part of your fingers on the scar. Move the skin and tissue under the scar back and forth, holding for a few seconds. Make sure you press enough to feel the scar “move” under your fingertips.
- Move your fingers along to the next section of scar, and repeat until you’ve massaged all along the scar.
Circles
- Put the flat part of your fingers on the scar. Move the skin and tissue under the scar in a small circle, holding for a few seconds. Make sure you press enough to feel the scar “move” under your fingertips.
- Move your fingers along to the next section of scar, and repeat until you’ve massaged all along the scar.
