Breast & Chest Massage

Please read all of the following information carefully:

I offer 60 minute sessions focused on the breast & chest area to all genders. The face-down part of the session targets the shoulders, back, ribs, and the sides of the breast tissue. The face-up part of the session includes the neck, chest/pectorals, breasts, ribs, and abdomen. This work can be done fully draped, partially draped, or undraped. The specifics of what areas are massaged and how draped the client is can be customized to one's needs and preferences. Breast & chest massage can also be included in all therapeutic, athletic performance, and prenatal services with no additional charge.

I have been trained in providing breast massage meeting all the legal requirements outlined by WA state law to perform draped and undraped massage on the breast/chest area. LMTs must have 16 hours of specialized training in breast massage to undrape the chest and work directly on breast tissue, regardless of a client's gender. I can provide proof of my training to anyone interested.

Breast and chest massage can be helpful for many conditions including but not limited to:

Neck, shoulder, and back pain relief
Breathing restrictions from asthma or bronchitis
Post-operative pain and scarring from operations such as open heart surgery, mastectomies, gender-affirmative top surgery, breast reductions, and breast augmentations
Reducing anxiety and increasing relaxation
Lactation-related pain

Please read the FAQ section below for more information on breast massage and feel free to reach out with any additional conditions. I am dedicated to providing safe, gender-affirmative care and will only provide breast and chest massage for clients who give me informed written and verbal consent. Consent can be revoked at any time for any reason.

You can find a video of what breast massage looks like on someone with female breasts as a part of a therapeutic massage session via the link below:

https://youtu.be/HRz9XTXktQc?si=Vr_aGOkQc7xRNHLJ

There is some great information on breast massage at the end of the video and in the video description as well.

Breast Massage FAQs

Why do people get breast & chest massage?

The benefits for massage of any body area including pain and tension reduction, increased range of motion, improved circulation, and relaxation also apply to massage of the breast and chest. Receivers of breast massage may feel that the inclusion of breasts & chest in a full body massage promotes a feeling of wholeness and a sense of innocence that many of us haven't felt since childhood. This touch is non-sexual and therapeutic, as well as acknowledges the breasts a part of our whole anatomy. Treatment of the breasts can also increase breast health awareness, relieve congestion, ease tightness due to surgical scars, alleviate breast symptoms of PMS, enhance milk flow and production for breastfeeding, reduce breast and nipple pain, improve respiration, increase blood and lymph flow throughout the breast tissue, and release fascial restrictions.

Does breast massage prevent, treat, or cure breast cancer?

Breast massage does NOT cure or diagnose breast cancer. However, it can relieve swelling and support circulation of blood and lymph in breast tissue which helps keep breasts healthy. Wearing bras can restrict blood and lymph flow by applying pressure to breast tissue. Proper lymph circulation is important for our immune system, and a healthy immune system helps prevent and fight cancer.

Soothing touch to traumatized areas of the chest provides emotional support for people living with breast cancer and for breast cancer survivors and thrivers. However, please keep in mind that I am not trained in working with clients currently being treated for cancer and will only perform breast massage on those in remission. Please look at the question/answer below for a list of other breast massage contraindications.

What is the first step in receiving breast massage at your office?

We begin with reviewing your health history to ensure there are no contra-indications or cautions for this work such as infections, lymphedema, undiagnosed lumps or discharge. I will clearly explain the process and the options of draped or undraped chest massage to you. If you choose to proceed, I will ask you to sign a special “massage for vulnerable areas consent” form.

How do you do draped breast & chest massage?

Your breasts will remain covered by a sheet or pillow case. I will apply gentle compressive strokes along the edge of the sternum, a.k.a the breast bone, and also on the lower ribcage. I will massage the upper chest between the neck and the upper edge of the sheet directly on the skin and body. I will not touch the main part of the breasts which remain under the drape at all times.

How do you do full, undraped breast & chest massage?

After you have told me you would like full chest and breast massage, I will undrape your chest. I massage directly on the full chest and breast, with my focus primarily being to access the ribcage deep to the soft breast tissue. I gently, yet firmly, press through the fatty tissue, sometimes sliding the softer breast tissue to the side. While I never specifically target the nipples and areola, I also don’t avoid them. My flat palms and forearms pass over the full chest and breast. A video of what this looks like can be found here.

What if I give consent for you to do breast massage, but I change my mind later?

That's okay! Consent can be withdrawn at any time for any reason. I will always ask for verbal consent during the session prior to undraping the breasts and it is your right to request a drape and/or stop the massage at any time for any reason. If you find that you aren't able to verbalize your discomfort in the moment, you can slap or kick the table as a signal for me to re-drape you and check in.

How long after surgery am I able to receive breast & chest massage

Clients should wait at least 6-8 weeks after surgery involving breasts or chest (i.e. mastectomy, breast reduction, breast augmentation, or open heart surgery) to receive massage treatment on that area. I encourage clients to get cleared by their doctor first to ensure it is safe to receive massage on the surgical site.