Danny,
I went through about eight weeks of PT prior to my surgery that was designed to provide increased range of motion in both of my hips to enable me to avoid or delay hip resurfacing. This form of PT is based around the therapist helping me move my legs in such a fashion that scar tissue and fascia slowly and gently break loose so the body can provide replacement tissue that is healthier and more flexible. It was also supposed to create some space in the hip socket to enable fluids to get in to help lubricate and heal. Theoretically it made sense, so I gave it a try.
The therapy was extremely painful, as you can imagine. This was not massage, but therapist assisted manipulation of my legs and hip joints. The therapy did not enable me to avoid surgery, but it did increase my mobility in the three months prior to surgery. I have no idea if it was beneficial in the long run or not. I would not undergo such active release therapy again. I am convinced that getting back to the same active lifestyle I had before OA kicked in, minus high impact sports, will be enough to enable my body to heal normally. I am getting outpatient PT on a weekly basis that includes having the therapist help me increase my range of motion by gentle manipulation of my legs. It's painful, but it is working.
I have not had anyone recommend massage as a means to deal with scar tissue, except for the incision site. What your buddy suggests sounds reasonable. I hope it works for you.
I'm going to Costa Rica in March to spend a week playing in the warm sea and drinking cold beer. I think that will do wonders for my scar tissue. Most of which is insidenmynhead, by the way.
Boomer