You don't need to wear a specific post-surgery or mastectomy bra unless you are advised to. If you are not given any advice about bras following surgery, check with your surgeon or breast care nurse what is best to wear.
You should avoid going braless before the six-week mark after your surgery. Dr. Howland requires patients to wear their compression bra for several weeks at all times except when bathing to aid the healing process.
Women should wear a well-fitted and supportive bra, even during the night, for 1 week. You will probably be able to go back to work or your normal routine in 1 to 3 weeks after the surgery.
Wearing a normal bra can cause you pain, or irritate the area where you had surgery. If you had a lumpectomy, we recommend that you wear a wireless bra 24 hours a day for the first week or two. If you had a mastectomy, it is up to you if you'd like to wear a bra or camisole unless otherwise told by your surgical team.
For more invasive surgeries, you may need to sleep in your bra for up to two weeks. While wearing a bra can feel uncomfortable, this step protects the breast and surgical site to ensure a smoother lumpectomy recovery time.
A sports bra will keep the breasts in place while exercising, but it can be too restrictive when dealing with post-surgery recovery. The breasts can swell a little and a sports bra won't leave any room for this.
Your breast may look different after a lumpectomy. You may have a small scar or dimpled skin where the tumor was removed. Or the shape of your breast may change. If you're concerned surgery will affect your breast size or symmetry, talk to your doctor before your lumpectomy.
Doctors typically recommend radiation therapy after lumpectomy to help reduce the risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence). The goal of radiation therapy is to destroy any cancer cells that might remain in the breast after the surgeon removes the tumor.
The compression bras should be comfortable yet be able to exert adequate pressure to support your breasts and implants in position. It should not be too tight. Wearing too-tight compression garments cause more harm than good.
Avoid strenuous activities, such as biking, jogging, weightlifting, or aerobic exercise, for 1 month or until your doctor says it is okay. This may include housework, such as washing windows, especially if you have to use the arm next to the affected breast.
You can shower 24 hours after your surgery. Taking a warm shower is relaxing and can help decrease discomfort. During your shower, use soap to gently wash your incision. After your shower, pat the areas dry with a clean towel.
Radiation after Lumpectomy
A course of radiation starts between six and 12 weeks after lumpectomy surgery. Most frequently, we target the entire breast (whole-breast radiation). In some cases, we also treat nearby lymph nodes.
As far as wearing the bra to bed at night, that is optional. If the patient has undergone a reshaping of an existing scar tissue pocket at the time of the breast surgery, however, we advise that the bra be worn for six weeks at night while sleeping.
Avoid heavy lifting on the surgical side for 4 weeks after surgery. Always return to lifting gradually after this period. Your surgeon may suggest a longer time frame for avoiding lifting. Be mindful of your shoulder on the surgical side.
When looking for a bra to wear after your lumpectomy and radiation treatment, steer clear of underwire bras. Painful skin burns and friction don't exactly mix. Instead you'll want a wirefree bra made of the softest material possible, constructed with seams that don't irritate your most delicate areas.
Blood collecting around the operation site (haematoma)
Occasionally blood collects in the tissues around the wound. This can cause pain and swelling, and the area might feel hard. The haematoma normally goes away on its own, but it can take a few months. Your doctor or nurse can drain the swelling if needed.
Radiation therapy is painless. You may feel some discomfort from lying in the required position, but this is generally short-lived. After the session, you're free to go about your regular activities. Take any self-care steps at home that your doctor or nurse recommends, such as taking care of your skin.
Lumpectomy is performed under anesthesia; hence, the procedure itself is not painful. After the surgery and recovery from anesthesia, patients may experience pain, which usually resolves in a few days and can be minimized with painkillers prescribed by the doctor.
After lumpectomy to remove early-stage breast cancer, radiation therapy often is used to reduce the risk of recurrence (the cancer coming back). Whole-breast radiation therapy after breast cancer surgery is usually given as one treatment per day, 5 days a week, for 5 to 7 weeks.
Regardless of whether you choose to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy, the recurrence rate remains at approximately 10 percent in the treated breast and about 0.5 percent per year in the breast that has not been treated. The risk of getting a different cancer is about 2 percent.
If you stop wearing the surgical bra before the recommended time provided in your surgeon's aftercare plan, you may notice that it takes longer for your incision to heal. Compression bras increase blood flow to the surgical site, flooding the area with nutrients and proteins to boost cell renewal and speed up healing.
The ideal fit for a post-surgery bra should be snug but not tight. The best indicator that your bra fits correctly is that it's comfortable, and although you might feel some pressure, this isn't excessive or painful. Signs that your bra is too tight include: the straps or edges leaving marks on your skin.
Wearing a compression garment after your breast augmentation or breast lift applies even pressure across the treatment area, preventing excessive buildup of fluids. The garment also helps your body absorb any accumulating fluid. Without it, post-op swelling can linger much longer than necessary.