When Can I Sleep Flat After Breast Augmentation?
The first thing to know about sleeping flat after breast augmentation is that it can take different amounts of time for each patient. You’ll want to talk to your surgeon about what their recommendations are, and follow their instructions as closely as possible.
Some women get back to sleeping flat within a few weeks, while others may need months or even years. Some women will only be able to sleep in certain positions or with certain pillows, so you might need to adjust your lifestyle in order to sleep comfortably.
But if you’ve had breast augmentation surgery, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to sleeping flat—just make sure that your pillow supports your neck correctly and comfortably, and that you don’t have any pressure on your spine or shoulders when you sleep on your side or back.
This guide also proffers answers to questions such as how long to sleep elevated after breast reduction and when can i lay on my stomach after breast augmentation.
When Can I Sleep Flat After Breast Augmentation
Sleep is very important after breast augmentation.
Sleep is essential to a healthy immune system and a speedier recovery. Your body has to work hard to heal from surgery, which is why you will likely find yourself feeling fatigued in the days following your breast augmentation. However, when we sleep, the body is still and can dedicate more blood flow to the injured muscles and tissues, delivering oxygen and nutrients to promote healing.
Additionally, sleep can play a part in our response to pain. According to this WebMD article, getting more sleep can help reduce the amount of pain you experience. Ideally, you should be trying to get 8 hours per night, and likely more when your body is healing.
How you sleep matters, too.
It is important to sleep on your back for a while after breast augmentation surgery. To reduce swelling, your upper body should be elevated, especially while you sleep. This helps minimize fluid buildup, enhances circulation, and also keeps the breasts in a more natural position as they heal.
Another reason to sleep with your body elevated is that it can help with mobility. Getting out of bed requires some upper body strength. During recovery, using your arm and chest muscles is not advised, and sleeping upright can ensure that you don’t need to reach or pull with your arms to get out of bed. Often patients sleep in recliners or use special pillows to ensure that they stay in the right position.
After several days, when swelling and bruising have gone down, you can usually sleep flat on your back if you feel comfortable doing so. 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. Sleeping on your stomach is an absolute no-no until you get the green light from your surgeon.
Side and tummy sleepers should prepare early.
If you don’t normally sleep on your back, it may seem difficult to make the change. To prepare for surgery, it is a good idea to start training yourself to sleep on your back before your actual surgery date.
- Use positioning pillows. Extra pillows in the bed can help you keep your body positioned correctly. Many people successfully sleep on their back by placing a pillow under each arm.
- Keep a pillow under your knees to help maintain proper alignment of your back. This can also help people who experience lower back discomfort.
- Don’t quit. Always roll to your back when you catch yourself on your side or stomach.
- Use a special pillow that will hold your head in place. This will prevent your head from rolling to one side and give you good support.
Once you are fully healed, you may return to whatever sleeping position you like. However, continuing to sleep on your back has some benefits. This position can prevent neck and back pain because it keeps your head, neck, and spine in a neutral position. There is also some evidence that sleeping on your back is better for preventing the formation of lines and wrinkles.
A few more tips for sleeping comfortably after recovery…
- Wear a supportive bra when you sleep. This will help hold your breasts in place, ease tension on your incisions, reduce swelling, and enhance your recovery overall.
- Take a warm shower (not a bath) in the evening. This is a proven technique for relaxation and getting to sleep faster.
- Walk around regularly throughout the day. This helps with circulation and reduces the risk of developing blood clots. It also helps keep you from getting stiff and achy from too much immobility.
- Avoid known sleep disruptors like caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and electronic screens.
things to avoid after breast augmentation
When you think about it, the breast augmentation process is pretty straightforward. You go to your doctor, they take measurements and discuss your expectations, then they make a plan for you.
But what happens after the surgery is over? What should you avoid and how can you tell if something’s wrong? We’ve got the answers!
The Top Do’s
This list, which you should follow to a “t,” will include several instructions such as:
- Make sure that you have arranged for someone to drive you home after your breast augmentation. Because you will be placed under general anesthesia for your surgery, you will not be allowed to drive yourself home.
- Arrange for someone to stay home with you the first day or two after your surgery to help you get around the house and be with you in case you have any negative reaction to the general anesthesia you received.
- Rest for the first few days after your breast augmentation, allowing your body to heal from the surgery.
- Sleep comfortably by lying either in a recliner, on your back with pillows under your knees and back or in the fetal position.
- Boost your energy by eating healthy meals and snacks.
- Wear loose and comfortable clothing on the days immediately after your Houston breast augmentation.
- Take any pain and antibiotic medication that you may have been given exactly as prescribed, even if it means waking up in the middle of the night, so you don’t miss a dose. Missing a dose can make it hard for you to stay on top of any pain you may be experiencing.
- Avoid any exercise with high impact that would cause your new augmentation to move. Walking and light aerobic exercise are encouraged and not harmful to your result.
- Call your plastic surgeon immediately if you develop a fever in the first few days after your breast augmentation, or if you have any questions or concerns.
The Top Don’ts
In addition to following the above “do’s” after your Houston breast augmentation, you’ll want to avoid the following activities that can negatively affect your healing process:
- Don’t perform any heavy lifting, carrying or pushing in the first few weeks after your breast augmentation surgery. For mothers, this includes not picking up or carrying your small children and heavy purses.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach or your side, which can be painful and negatively impact your healing process and final breast augmentation results.
- Don’t worry if your breasts initially appear high set; over time they will drop and fluff and fall into their final, more natural position.
- Refrain from getting your breasts wet – either in a bath, shower or pool, for the first weeks after your surgery.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking negatively impacts your body’s ability to heal after a surgery.
- Don’t wear an underwire bra, which can not only be painful but also prevent your breast implants from settling properly.
How Long To Sleep Elevated After Breast Reduction
You can typically switch to sleeping on your back flat on your bed for a few weeks after sleeping on your back in an elevated position for at least four to six weeks.
When Can I Lay On My Stomach After Breast Augmentation
But your body will let you know when you’re ready, you can usually start lying on your stomach six to twelve weeks after your surgery.