If you’re wondering when you can lay on your side after breast augmentation, the answer is: it depends. Your doctor will have specific recommendations for you and your recovery. Here’s what they’ll tell you:
- You can turn over on your back as soon as the anesthesia wears off and the pain subsides.
- You’re going to want to avoid laying flat on your stomach for at least two weeks after surgery, but don’t worry about putting pressure on the site of your incision. The stitches and bandages are designed to hold everything in place while protecting your tender skin from irritation and bruising.
- Once you’re able to sit up without discomfort or pain, try sleeping in an upright position for a couple nights—either sitting up with pillows or leaning against the headboard with pillows behind you—to help reduce swelling and keep things in place while they heal. Having said that…
- If it hurts too much to sleep upright or if there’s significant swelling around your incision sites (which can happen even if there isn’t any pain), try sleeping flat on your back instead of trying to prop yourself up with pillows.
In this article we’ll highlight how to sleep comfortably with breast implants and things to avoid after breast augmentation.
When Can I Lay On My Side After Breast Augmentation
The best time to sleep on your side after a breast augmentation is six to eight weeks after your surgery. This is when your incisions have healed and the chances of wound issues lower.
However, there are other factors to consider when thinking about sleeping on your side again. Even after your breasts have healed, side sleeping can still affect your overall results. For example, sleeping on your side has been linked to having asymmetry in the breasts and face.
Asymmetry occurs when the muscles and bones get pulled in opposite directions, away from the central plane. It’s important to mention that asymmetry is present in everyone, regardless of their sleeping position.
However, sleeping on your side makes it harder for your muscles and bones to stay aligned with the central plane of the body. Therefore, the asymmetry is more present in those who sleep on their side.
Side Sleepers
Many women tend to sleep on their sides or change from one position to another during their sleep. However, it would help if you learned how to sleep after breast augmentation surgery. Your plastic surgeon will advise you to sleep on your back or in a recliner during the first few weeks of your recovery.
Sleeping on your back will also be more comfortable, especially after breast augmentation surgery. So you might naturally gravitate towards this position anyway, even if you don’t usually sleep on your back.
Sleeping after plastic surgery can also be easier on a recliner because it only allows you to sleep on your back. So if you have restless body syndrome and move around a lot, a recliner may control those urges.
Lastly, if you do a combination of side and back sleeping, consider placing pillows next to you. Creating these barriers can eliminate the need to roll on your side during your sleep! Also, this added support will protect your breast if you do roll on your side.
Tips for a Better Sleep
As stated earlier, you can go back to side sleeping after six to eight weeks after your breast augmentation. However, it may be more difficult due to the size and weight of your breast implants. Here are some tips to follow for better sleep!
Your plastic surgeon will advise you to sleep with some support under your breasts. This will allow your incisions to heal properly without adding any unnecessary pressure to the breast.
If you’re struggling with severe pain, an orthopedic pillow can give you greater support than a regular pillow. This will also help to reduce your chances of getting asymmetric breast due to side sleeping.
Wear a supportive surgical bra for the first few days after your surgery. You can use a sports bra, too, during your recovery and until the end of the second month. However, the exact timing should be determined by your doctor.
After a breast augmentation, it’s advised that you stay in the dressings that your surgeon put on for you. Even if you’re taking a quick nap, you should still wear it.
A compression dressing that your surgeon put on offers added support to your breasts. They also help in the recovery process by keeping your breasts in a stable position. After a few weeks, you can replace your surgical bra with a sports bar, if you prefer. But always check in with your surgeon first.
This will give you the best healing and better results after your breast augmentation!
Train Yourself to Sleep on Your Back
Side sleepers have a hard time switching to back sleeping because it’s been their comfort zone for years! However, there are ways to train yourself to sleep on your back.
Sleep experts advise that you find a way to imitate what you prefer about side sleeping while on your back. Essentially you want to trick your mind into finding comfort on your back.
After all, sleeping positions are all psychological. For example, those who sleep on their back are linked to having more self-confidence and self-love. Oddly enough, if you train yourself to start sleeping on your back, you can also start experiencing higher levels of self-confidence. So, where do you start?
A great night’s rest begins with a great nighttime routine. Having a nighttime routine will ensure that you are prepared for a full night of sleep. First, the use of technology before sleep has been linked to irregular sleep patterns and even insomnia.
Its recommended that you don’t use any devices an hour before your intended sleep time. However, many people use their cellphones or even fall asleep to a TV show in the background in this day and age. In fact, many people use their devices as a way to help them sleep.
What you may not know is that you’re creating a dependency in your brain. This horrible cycle continues, and before you know it, your falling sleep patterns become unpredictable.
If you do struggle with restlessness before bed, consider meditating, reading, or writing! These activities help bring the mind to a calm and sleepy stage. Meditation has also been proven to help with anxiety, which may be higher after breast augmentation surgery.
After breast augmentation surgery, a regular sleeping pattern is essential because your body has gone through trauma and needs hours of rest! Allowing your mind and body to relax will lead you to a better recovery process!
Eating and Sleeping Before Bed
Eating unhealthy foods before bed is always a no-go for several reasons. One being is that foods containing higher lipids can cause restlessness, heartburn, and indigestion! This happens because you’re not allowing your body to digest these heavy foods before bed fully.
Also, eating unhealthy foods before bed can cause a decrease in energy levels in the morning. So if you’ve ever wondered why you still feel tired even after a good night’s rest, your food intake may be the issue!
Nevertheless, certain foods have been shown to help with insomnia and other sleeping disorders. These foods include kale, celery, and lettuce. These low-fat foods are packed with nutrients and naturally occurring sedatives like lactucarium.
When you see the word sedative, you may be a little freaked out. However, these naturally occurring sedatives are very different from any prescription sleep medication or even melatonin.
In fact, these foods have to be consumed at higher levels even to feel their effects. A great way to get a good amount of these greens is by making a juice or smoothie. Making a green juice or smoothie an hour before bedtime allows for fast and easy absorption.
Suppose you’re not a fan of green juices, then try drinking herbal teas! Chamomile, lavender, and Skullhead are all great herbs that help with relaxation and sleep.
Lastly, it would be best not to drink any caffeinated drinks like soda and coffee before bed. Its recommended that you only drink caffeine during the first 8 hours of your day. Anytime after that, you may experience a sleeping disturbance!
Importance of Sleeping After a Breast Augmentation
Overall, getting a good night’s sleep is important for everyone, regardless if you’ve had surgery. Its recommended that you receive at least 9 hours of sleep every night.
Sleep is directly linked to your mental health. So having a proper sleep can impact the body and mind, especially after plastic surgery! Unfortunately, after breast augmentation surgery, sleep deprivation may occur; that’s why it’s important to follow these tips.
A well-balanced sleeping schedule can also relieve pain after surgery which helps with the recovery process. During your sleep, is when your body starts to focus on healing itself.
The body will do a better job delivering oxygen to the surgery areas, causing it to heal faster. So getting longer and undisturbed sleep is very important for successful results after surgery!
Full Recovery
Now that you’ve had a breast augmentation, it’s time to change those bad sleeping habits!
Always remember to follow these steps for better sleep! Your face, body, and mind will thank you later.
How To Sleep Comfortably With Breast Implants
Your primary concerns when selecting a sleeping position after breast augmentation are to be comfortable, prevent overstressing your implants, and protect your incisions. Generally speaking, lying on your back with your upper body slightly raised on cushions or in a recliner is your best bet. In addition to preventing fluid buildup and excessive strain on your chest, this position also lessens tension or irritation near your incisions.
Things To Avoid After Breast Augmentation
We’ll start with a few proactive measures you can take to ensure a successful recovery from breast augmentation surgery.
DO take a lot of time to rest. Breast augmentation is a substantial process, and your body needs time to heal after any major surgery. For patients with breast implants, we advise relaxing in bed or on the couch for at least a long weekend, getting up only when necessary, and avoiding strenuous activity.
AVOID lying on your back. Keep in mind that your implants will still be setting in after breast augmentation. Your results could be compromised if you lie on your stomach because it might change the final location of those implants. As much as you can during your recovery period, lie on your back.
EAT WISELY. Giving your body the nourishment it requires can help it mend and regain its strength. You won’t be able to recover and feel normal if you stuff yourself with junk food and empty calories. Instead, make an effort to consume a lot of nutritious grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
DO inquire about pain medicine with your surgeon. You’ll receive a prescription for painkillers prior to your procedure. Ask your surgeon about the best OTC medications to use in addition to taking the medication as directed. With just Motrin or Aleve, many people are able to recover comfortably.
REMAIN FORGIVE with yourself. Note that you will experience some edema for a few weeks after a breast augmentation treatment. As a result, it will be challenging to distinguish clearly the surgical results. Keep going and have faith in the procedure. Be kind to yourself and keep in mind that fantastic results will eventually appear.
If you have any questions or concerns, DO contact your plastic surgeon. Contact your plastic surgeon for advice if you have any questions or concerns about the recovery procedure.
Things to Avoid
This list of things to avoid following breast augmentation is the next in our series on the dos and don’ts of breast augmentation.
AVOID wearing underwired bras. You might be given a special support bra after your procedure, which you should wear pretty much constantly during your rehabilitation. Wear it as long as your surgeon advises, just taking it off to shower. (In some circumstances, a surgeon could advise choosing a standard sports bra.) Avoid wearing underwire bras since they could irritate the area where you had surgery and change where the implants will ultimately be placed.
DO NOT lift anything heavy. During your recovery period, you’ll want to refrain from lifting your kids or moving any heavy objects about the house. You’ll also want to refrain from engaging in regular physical activity. You may have soreness while lifting big objects, which could also harm your results.
DON’T go swimming. In fact, we advise against using hot tubs, swimming pools, or going for a swim in the lake or ocean. The explanation is straightforward: It’s crucial to prevent too much water from getting into your incision site in order to reduce your risk of infection. Shower, paying attention to any particular instructions your surgeon may have given you.
DO NOT USE TOBACCO PRODUCTS OR SMOKE. Cigarette products might slow down your body’s natural healing process, thus delaying the recovery from breast augmentation. We advise patients to abstain from cigarette use for at least two months prior to having breast augmentation surgery, and for at least one month thereafter.
DON’T immediately update your clothes. One of the most exciting things about breast augmentation is that you can get rid of all your old underwear and then go shopping for new clothes at your favorite lingerie shop. But, be cautious and keep in mind that it may take up to three months for your implants to become fully implanted. Your breast size may vary slightly throughout this period. One or two new bras at a time would be our suggestion, followed by a little interval before trying on additional.
DON’T exert too much effort. Finally, keep in mind that each person’s recovery is unique. It’s acceptable if you don’t recover as quickly as you had intended. That doesn’t necessary imply that something is wrong or that you are weak. At this period of transition, be kind to yourself and give yourself as much time as you require to rest and recover.
You ought to be well on your way to a quick recovery and the best outcomes if you follow this list of dos and don’ts following breast augmentation surgery.