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Health Information and Tools > Breast Cancer Surgery > At home after surgery >  Breast cancer surgery: Scar massage
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Your Journey Through Breast Cancer Surgery

Breast Cancer Surgery

Scar massage

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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 are well closed with no gaps, and have no drainage. You can do the massages here for breast, chest, and armpit scars.

If you’re having radiation treatments, you may be told to stop doing scar massage during your treatments, because it may be uncomfortable and your skin is fragile during radiation. You can start again when your skin has healed from your radiation treatments.

  • Massage the scar 2 to 3 times a day for 5 minutes each time.
  • Massage every day for 6 months to 1 year after surgery.

You may feel some pulling. Loosening the scar may be more comfortable to do while the skin is warm (such as after a shower). Make sure your skin is dry and do not use cream so your fingers do not slide while you’re trying to do the massage.

Towards the scar

  1. 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.
  2. Place your fingers below the scar. Move the skin and tissue under it upwards, towards the scar. Hold for a few seconds.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. Move your fingers along to the next section of scar, and repeat until you’ve massaged all along the scar.

 

Circles

  1. 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.
  2. Move your fingers along to the next section of scar, and repeat until you’ve massaged all along the scar.​​

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Current as of: November 17, 2022
Author: Cancer Control Alberta

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This material is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health professional. This material is intended for general information only and is provided on an "as is", "where is" basis. Although reasonable efforts were made to confirm the accuracy of the information, Alberta Health Services does not make any representation or warranty, express, implied or statutory, as to the accuracy, reliability, completeness, applicability or fitness for a particular purpose of such information. Alberta Health Services expressly disclaims all liability for the use of these materials, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits arising from such use.

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