Generally speaking, you shouldn't consider going braless for at least six weeks after breast augmentation. Your breasts need to be thoroughly supported during this time to ensure optimal healing.
If you have had breast reconstruction you may be advised to wear a bra initially during the day and night after your surgery. Many women are concerned about finding comfortable and well-fitting bras following breast reconstruction. Your surgeon will advise what bra to wear depending on your type of reconstruction.
For the most part, patients will need to wait at least four to six weeks before they can switch to side sleeping. For some patients, it may be more like eight weeks.
Many women find a recliner to be more comfortable for sleeping than a bed. After the initial healing stage, most women are able to sleep flat on their back rather than elevated for a few weeks before shifting to sleeping on your side.
We recommend that our patients sleep on their back for at least 6-8 weeks. Adherence to this recommendation will ensure that the implants heal well and do not get displaced. It also reduces the risk of capsular contracture, which is a distortion of the breast tissue around the implant.
First 2 weeks: You have to wear a surgical bra, which can be removed only during showers. After 2 to 3 weeks: You will be free to wear either a non-wire supportive bra, or a sports bra all the time. After 4 weeks: You would be able to skip wearing bras at night.
A sports bra rarely has a deep enough underband to provide the support you need after surgery, nor does it allow for any post-operative swelling, which means it can quickly cut in and could restrict lymphatic drainage.
The earliest patients should consider shopping for a new bra after breast augmentation surgery is around the two-month mark.
If you do not wear a compression bra following breast implant placement or stop wearing it before your implant settles in a new shape and size, there is a high risk of your implants dislocating from their position.
When Can You Go Braless After Breast Lift? After approximately six weeks, your breast lift incisions should have healed sufficiently that you can begin to go braless in certain situations. However, you should try to avoid going braless regularly so as to help prevent any future sagging.
The best position for safe sleeping after breast augmentation surgery is on your back with your upper body slightly elevated. This position, typically achieved by sleeping in a recliner or with a stack of pillows, can reduce breast swelling and soreness.
After surgery, the implants tend to ride hide and appear small due to the patient's skin tightness in the area. There is tightness because the implants increase dimension to breast tissue causing the skin to compress the implant's shape and size.
However, it's important that you don't sleep on your side or roll onto your side in your sleep. This could put pressure on the implant or your incisions as you heal, which may affect your results. My patients can typically return to side sleeping (while wearing a supportive bra) within 2 weeks.
Not only will you want to abstain from regular physical exercise during your recovery period, but you'll also want to avoid lifting your children or moving any heavy items around the house. Lifting heavy items can cause you pain, as well as potentially compromise your final results. DON'T go for a swim.
Generally speaking, you shouldn't consider going braless for at least six weeks after breast augmentation. Your breasts need to be thoroughly supported during this time to ensure optimal healing. After six weeks, you may occasionally go braless, but try to keep this to special occasions, and don't make it a habit.
Busting the Myths About Sleeping in Bras
However, there's no scientific truth to support them. For example, sleeping in a bra will not make your breasts perkier or prevent them from sagging. Furthermore, it will not cause breast cancer or restrict breast growth. If you choose to wear a bra to bed, choose carefully.
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.
It is easy to tear out these stitches early on, so it is vital that no strenuous arm activity be performed for several weeks; this includes putting your arms over your head for the first three weeks. So, avoid pullover shirts for that period of time.
During the first several weeks (typically between 4-6 weeks) after your breast augmentation, it's important to wear a compression or sports bra. Compression provided by these bras during your recovery help ensure that the incisions heal correctly and the implants are positioned appropriately.
After 6-8 weeks, your body should be fully healed and recovered, and you can resume your daily activities. It's important to know that even after you're fully healed, it will still take about 3-6 months for your breast implants to fully settle into your breasts.
Your breast implants may appear to be bigger or fuller once they've dropped to a lower, more natural-looking position on your chest and "fluffed" into a rounder and softer shape. Changes in the size or shape of your new breasts after augmentation can also occur as swelling and tightness subside.
Your Recovery
After the surgery you will probably feel weak. You may feel sore for 2 to 3 weeks, and you'll likely have a lot of swelling. You may have a pulling or stretching feeling in your breast area. You can expect to feel better and stronger each day, although you may need pain medicine for a week or two.
It's normal to feel some pain in the first one to two weeks after having breast augmentation surgery. The pain will be most severe in the first few days and should gradually subside.
If my breast augmentation incisions are in the armpit area, when can I shave or use deodorant? Use spray deoderant for the first 2 weeks (after the first 24 hours), and then go back to what you were using before surgery.