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.
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.
Avoid bras that apply pressure to these incision areas for at least three months. At first, we recommend sleeping without a bra, unless that bra was provided by your surgeon. After a six week period, patients may sleep with a bra if they find it more comfortable.
Sleeping on your back keeps your breasts in the best possible position for healing. In fact, Dr. Kirby recommends her Fort Worth breast augmentation, breast lift, and breast reduction patients sleep on their backs for at least 8 to 12 weeks after surgery.
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.
4 to 6 weeks post-op
Usually, at this point, most patients have fully recovered and can resume regular activity. Your breasts should look and feel more natural. Patients are advised to make an appointment with their surgeon for a full evaluation of the breast implants.
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.
You may shower 24 hours after surgery, but it is advisable to wait 48 hours to prevent wetting the incision area. After 24 hours, you may remove the dressings except for any skin tapes or steri-strips covering the incisions.
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.
Many women choose to sleep in a recliner after breast augmentation surgery to ensure they remain on their back throughout the night. If you do inadvertently roll to your side or stomach, there is likely nothing to worry about, though you should return to your back as soon as you notice.
In the first 1 to 2 weeks, you can use your arm normally up to shoulder height for light activities, such as face washing, hair brushing and eating. But avoid lifting your arm above the height of your shoulder. Don't lift anything heavy, but you can use your arm to lift a cup of tea.
It is normal for breast implants to settle into a slightly different position over time. It is not normal for implants to move to a dramatically different location on the chest wall. This is called implant displacement, and there are several ways an implant can shift.
The use of textured gel implants: Using gel implants with a textured surface, rather than a smooth surface, has been shown to reduce the likelihood of capsular contraction. It is thought that the textured surface of the implant makes it more difficult for thick scar tissue to develop around the implant.
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.
Don't do any exercise that will tighten your chest muscles. If you have any questions about this, talk with your doctor or nurse. Don't lift any objects heavier than 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) for 4 to 6 weeks. Check with your doctor or nurse before starting heavy exercises, such as running, jogging, or lifting weights.
Once you have clearance from your surgeon, we recommend massaging your breasts two to three times a day for the first couple of months. Complete this practice for about five minutes each time. After the first two months, massage your breasts five minutes once a day, or as often as recommended by Dr. Smart.
Dry shampoo and feminine hygiene cloths or wipes were also recommended to help patients stay fresh. Most patients are told not to shower until the surgical drains are removed, so these items can help with staying clean until it's safe to resume a normal routine.
After surgery, avoid salt, sugar, caffeine, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates for at least a month. After three days you can resume any vitamin or herbal supplements. The closer you follow the guidelines above, the better your surgical experience and recovery will be.
Many women find that they gain some weight after undergoing breast augmentation. In most instances, only 3-5 pounds are gained after your procedure. While some of this weight gain is caused by the presence of breast implants in your body, there are other factors that account for the rest of the weight.
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. You may get tired easily or have less energy than usual.
After your breast augmentation surgery, you'll need to sleep on your back in an elevated position for the first several days. This keeps your breasts in a more natural position, improves circulation, and minimizes swelling. It also makes it easier to get in and out of bed without straining your arm and chest muscles.