After undergoing breast augmentation surgery, it is crucial to sleep in an elevated position for at least one to two months, with six weeks being the standard recommendation for most patients. This elevated position helps to minimize swelling by relieving pressure on the incision areas and implants. By sleeping with your upper body elevated, you can promote proper healing and reduce the risk of complications following surgery. It is important to follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions carefully to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal results.
In this article, we’ll talk about how to sleep comfortably with breast implants and things to avoid after breast augmentation.
How Long Sleep Upright After Breast Augmentation
Patients often want to know how long to sleep elevated after breast augmentation.
Sleeping with a bra for at least a few weeks after getting breast implants is crucial for proper healing and support. In the initial weeks following breast augmentation surgery, it is recommended for patients to wear their surgical bra even while sleeping. This helps to minimize movement of the implants, reduce swelling, and provide necessary support to the newly augmented breasts. By following this guideline, patients can ensure optimal results and a smoother recovery process. It is important to consult with your surgeon for specific instructions and recommendations tailored to your individual needs.
In some cases, Dr. Aghayan will ask that you sleep in this position for longer. Speak with him about the specifics of your unique situation.
When Can I Sleep on My Side After Breast Augmentation?
After sleeping with upper body slightly elevated on your back for at least four to six weeks, you can usually transition to just sleeping on your back, flat on your bed, for a few weeks. Sleeping like this can also become tiresome, however, so patients ultimately want to know, “When can I sleep on my side after breast augmentation?”
Ultimately, side sleeping can usually resume six to eight weeks (around two months) after your surgery. Again, always discuss your unique situation with Dr. Aghayan as sleeping recommendations will vary from patient to patient.
When Can I Sleep Without a Bra After Breast Augmentation?
Initially, for the first few days and weeks after your surgery, you’ll need to wear a compression garment. This will be the garment you went home with after surgery.
Some patients simply refer to this garment as a bra, and it is very similar even though it has a specific medical purpose as well. That is, wearing a compression garment around the surgical area can help reduce swelling and will ensure the reshaping techniques Dr. Aghayan performed stay well-intact.
Your compression garment/bra should be worn 24/7 after surgery. It should only be taken off when bathing. Plan on wearing your bra for at least two to four weeks after your procedure.
How To Sleep Comfortably With Breast Implants
When it comes to breast augmentation, the best sleeping positions avoid putting pressure on the implants. Although many people find front sleeping comfortable, you will need to adapt your sleeping during your recovery. Here are 5 tips to help you get some shuteye after your surgery.
1. On Your Back and Slightly Elevated
Although it may sound like an odd position at first, you should sleep on your back with your upper body slightly elevated. This is the best way to recover as it helps to prevent fluid buildup and deliver the best results. Sleeping on your back also helps to enhance circulation and is a good all-around position. Try practising sleeping on your back for a few weeks before your surgery to get used to it.
2. Stock Up on Pillows
During your recovery, pillows will be your friend. Before your surgery, make sure you have enough pillows so that you can get comfortable. You can use pillows to prop under your head so that you’re slightly elevated. After a few weeks, you should be able to lie on your side, and pillows can stop you from rolling over onto your front.
3. Avoid Lying on Your Stomach
Whatever you do, avoid lying on your stomach. Putting pressure on your implants too early on could affect your results. It’s normal for many people to sleep on their stomachs, so sleeping on your back can feel a little odd. After healing and recovery, you can sleep on your stomach but avoid doing this during the first stages of recovery.
4. Sleep with Your Surgical Bra
You will need to sleep with your surgical bra in the first 6 weeks of recovery. This will help to reduce swelling and fluid accumulation. Your surgical bra is crucial for creating the best results possible.
5. Try a Recliner
If sleeping with several pillows is not working for you, try sleeping in a recliner. It can help to create the right body position for sleeping without the need for extra pillows.
The bottom line is that you need to avoid putting pressure on your implants and the best way to do this is to sleep on your back with your head slightly elevated. Finding a way to sleep comfortably after your breast surgery is crucial for optimising your results and feeling back to full strength as soon as possible.
Things To Avoid After Breast Augmentation
Are you planning to get a breast augmentation in the near future? If yes, you should know that there are two main factors contributing to effective breast surgery: one is the surgery itself and the other is the recovery. What we are going to talk about in this blog post is the one people are more likely to ignore, i.e. the recovery.
As your body experiences a dramatic change through the surgery, it needs time and, of course, attention to adjust to these alterations and get back on the track. To prepare you for a smooth recovery, here we’ve created a list of don’ts you need to follow.
WHAT NOT TO DO AFTER BREAST AUGMENTATION?
1) Do not smoke
Stop smoking one month before and after the surgery as it can negatively affect your surgery’s results and prevent proper healing. By this, you are asked to avoid any nicotine-containing substances, be it a cigarette or any other stuff. This is because nicotine can put you in the risk of infection and you may feel more pain during the recovery as well.
2) Do not sleep on your stomach
How you sleep and how long you sleep matter a lot after getting breast implants. You need to sleep on your back with your head and shoulders raised with a pillow; otherwise, your implants may slip and shift to an incorrect position, which can cause various complications. To fully understand this, we ask you to read our related article on how to sleep properly after breast augmentation.
3) Don’t let go of your bra
Wearing a surgical or sports bra after surgery is a must. It can hold your breasts in place and help you sleep at night with ease of mind. So, wear your bra up to 3 to 4 weeks following your procedure.
4) Don’t shower for a few days
After getting your breast implants, do not take a shower or wash your breasts for at least 2 days and after that, you can wash your breasts gently without rubbing the treated areas harshly.
5) Don’t take aspirin under any circumstances
One of the complications people may face after their boob job is “hematoma”. It’s a condition in which the blood is accumulated in the tissues manipulated during the surgery. Patients taking aspirin after breast surgery are more likely to experience hematoma as aspirin thins the blood.
6) Don’t take pain medications or other drugs unless prescribed
During the healing time, which may last for about 1 to 2 weeks, be more cautious in taking medications and consult with your doctor if you need to take any medicine. In case you feel severe pain, ask your doctor to prescribe you the appropriate pain medication.
7) Don’t exercise for a while
Strenuous activities should be avoided for about 1 month. You can only go walking during this period. After 1 month, start doing lower body exercises and gradually go with upper body exercises.
8) Don’t lift heavy objects
After any plastic surgery, you need to be careful about heavy lifting. You should refrain from heavy lifting or even hugging and carrying your child for a few weeks to make sure you’re not ruining your surgery’s results.
9) Don’t swim
Swimming in a pool or sea may harm your body and expose your incisions to infection. So, we recommend you to put aside swimming for a while and instead enjoy walking on the beach or having your lemonade by the pool.
Don’t soak your upper body in the water for a few weeks after breast augmentation.
10) Don’t go for sun tanning too early
Sun rays can make your surgical scars bolder. Although you can go to the beach for swimming after the first month, we recommend you to avoid sun tanning for a longer period of time (until your scars start to fade away and become less prominent).
11) Don’t drink alcohol
You need to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages before the surgery. Furthermore, stopping alcohol consumption for a week or two after the surgery can give you a quicker recovery.
12) Don’t turn it on so soon
Although you and your partner may get an intense craving for sex after your surgery, you better wait a little bit or take cautions when having sex. By cautions, we mean “wearing bras and avoiding putting pressures on your breasts”.