Three years ago, I got an otoplasty. My larger-than-average ears had bothered me since primary school, when boys teased me and my older brother called me Dumbo. More than a decade later, still too shy to wear my hair in a ponytail during Pilates and yoga classes, I finally decided to get my ears pinned.
The outward projection was my problem—not so much the size—which made me an ideal candidate for the surgery. I did it under local anesthesia, in a board-certified plastic surgeon’s office, and experienced no pain or problems—until I tried to go to sleep that night.
My ear pressing against my pillow at night was a level of pain completely unmanageable by prescription painkillers. My surgery didn’t require postoperative head bandages, and my doctor didn’t have a recommendation for the pain management besides sleeping on my back and taking Ambien. The only thing I hate worse than unmanageable pain? Sleeping on my back.
It wasn’t until my best friend had the idea to cut a hole in the middle of my memory foam pillow so that I could sleep more comfortably did it occur to me: I could just buy an airplane neck pillow. I used it on my side so that my ear remained untouched in the hollow of the pillow and my head rested comfortably on the exterior. I slept on it for months while the incisions behind my ears healed. I told my doctor about this trick and suggested he recommend it to otoplasty patients in the future.
The most downplayed thing about surgery recovery (and I would know—I’ve had six of them) is how essential restful sleep is to the healing process. Most doctors defer to sleeping pills, painkillers and heavy sedatives; but if my body is not in a comfortable, natural position, I won’t be in good shape physically or emotionally. The right post-operative pillow is a minor addition that can make a major difference.
If you’re getting ready for cosmetic surgery and want to avoid an additional chiropractic bill, try one of the following tried-and-tested post-operative pillows to aid in your recovery.
Related: RealSelf’s Guide to Traveling Out-of-State for Plastic Surgery
Rhinoplasty: Deluxe CosMed Comfort Pillow ($105.95)
I’ve had two rhinoplasties and two septoplasties with bilateral turbinate reductions. I can’t express how important it is for recovery (and your throat) to sleep with your head upright during the first few weeks after your surgery. I discovered this pillow before my second procedure, and it saved me. Pre-pillow discovery, I was stacking memory foam in various shapes and either turning my neck out or waking up with terrible post-nasal drip. With this, I slept through the night and my neck wasn’t contorted or in pain. (Hot tip: get the satin version. If you’re waking up with bruises under your eyes and gauze packing in your nose, you at least deserve smooth hair.)
Otoplasty: Dot&Dot Twist Memory Foam Travel Pillow ($24.99)
This memory foam pillow with twist powers is seriously the best. It bends and contorts to conform to your particular head shape, so it can be used before and after your ears have healed. I use it after getting new ear piercings, I’ve twisted it into various shapes for added neck support when reading a book in bed… the possibilities are endless.
Breast augmentation: Avana Kind Bed Orthopedic Support Pillow Comfort System with Bamboo Cover ($180)
After a breast augmentation, sleeping with your torso upright is a must, to combat additional swelling and fluid retention. But who likes to pretend they’re in economy on an international flight when they’re actually at home in their own bed? This support pillow system at least makes you feel like you’ve been upgraded to first class. The neck and head support makes all the difference between this and traditional wedge pillows. I only wish I’d had it after my first breast augmentation—live and learn, right?
Brazilian butt lift: Bombshell Booty Pillow V3 ($59.99)
Recently, a famous transgender YouTuber and I were talking about aesthetics when she mentioned she had undergone two Brazilian butt lifts. Naturally, I asked her about the comfort level of her post-op, and she swore by this post-operative pillow. The unique shape transfers all the weight of your upper body to your upper thighs, so you’re putting less pressure on your butt.
Related: I Had the Riskiest Cosmetic Surgery There Is—and Later Discovered My Doctor Wasn’t a Plastic Surgeon
Liposuction: Snoogle Chic Supreme ($62.99)
My friend got full-body liposuction this year and said that this adjustable pillow provided the perfect contour for her sore and sensitive body. The knee support was essential for sleeping on her side, which doctors advise, and preventing disturbance to the medial thighs, and it comes with a guide for proper positioning to cushion just about every area of the body.
