Underwire after subfascial implants? (Photo)

I appreciate your question.I typically wait 3 weeks before underwire bras is the incision is in the fold. Sports bras offer a good deal of support.Early on as the implants are settling, I don't recommend too much support. The best way to assess and give true advice would an in-person exam.Please see a board-certified plastic surgeon that specializes in aesthetic and restorative breast surgery.best of luck!Dr Schwartz

You do have large implants and wearing a supportive bra is imperative. Every surgeon has different preferences regarding underwire bras so I would recommend discussing this with him/her. In general, sports bras or specialized post-surgical bras offer the most support that is distributed throughout your breast rather than just support underneath. #PlasticSurgery #BreastAug #BreastImplant #Implants #Recovery #Postoperativebra 

Dear Vls82,



Although I was taught as were many in my
generation not to wear underwire bras after breast implants, further
consideration suggests that this is not a logical teaching. If the wire could
possibly injure the implants, why doesn’t it injure the overlying skin?
Likewise, the incision, if closed in layers which is typical, should not be
bothered by the light compression of a wired bra.



My advice is to wear the comfortable light
bra support put on after the surgery by the operating physician’s staff and/or
wear a sports bra for the first six weeks before buying more expensive
comfortable bras when the swelling has all subsided.



I hope this has been helpful to you.



Robert D. Wilcox, MD

If you have an incision beneath your breast, an underwire bra will likely irritate it.  I appreciate your concern that you would like to prevent drooping, in the future.  I believe that you are at significant risk for that problem since you appear to have very large implants and since they are on top of your muscles, there is now only skin left to hold them up.

The concern with underwire is that the metal puts a lot of pressure on the skin or sometimes the incision depending on its location.   Your sensation can be altered in the first days after an augmentation.  Skin breakdown or wound dehiscence can occur with as little as 8-12 hours of unrelieved pressure to the skin.

This is a great question.  I think you will find a variety of responses from plastics surgeons on the topic.  At one week I generally don't recommend an underwire in my practice because it can irritate and cause discomfort at the incision in the inframammary fold.  However, there are times I will recommend an underwire bra to help define the fold during the healing process and will have a patient wear an underwire day and night.  Talk to your surgeon about their recommendations.  I think you are on the right track.  Best wishes.