Is there any side effects from sleeping on your stomach with implants?
Can You Sleep on Your Stomach with Breast Implants?
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Young person
- Somewhere
- 3 years ago
Doctor Answers 12
I discourage my patients from sleeping on their stomach after breast implants as I have seen after fifteen years in practice that one of the main reasons for secondary surgeries is laterally displaced implants, which could be encouraged by sleeping on your stomach. I also encourage patients to sleep in a sports bra after breast surgery.
Once you have healed and your capsules are stable, usually around 4 to 6 weeks after surgery, you can start experimenting with different positions for sleep as you feel comfortable. Prior to that, it is best if you refrain from sleeping on your stomach and continue to sleep on your back or your sides. I also have my patients wear their postoperative bra during sleep for the first 4 to 6 weeks as well. It may still feel uncomfortable or unnatural for you to sleep on your stomach even at this point, but at least you can begin to try. The main reason for this precaution in my practice, in addition to purely comfort and the common sense avoidance of discomfort from something obvious like putting pressure on healing tissues, is to allow the implant capsules the chance to form naturally without any undue stresses from irregular or uneven directions which could potentially change the shape or position of the breasts. While there may be no evidence that this matters, it makes sense intuitively, and for something this simple and really risk-free to adhere to, I don't see any reason to tempt fate. The reality is that most girls who are habitual stomach sleepers will still probably find themselves on their tummies from time to time during the night, and I don't think that the occasional short time in this position is cause for alarm. However, being mindful of avoiding that position will help them limit this, and it is worth it in my opinion and probably helps limit the overall effect that that has. Good luck.
After you are healed, there seems to be no reason to avoid sleeping on your stomach. I ask my patients to wait six weeks before doing so.
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I know of no specific studies implying that sleeping on one's stomach will be detrimental for breast implants.
After searching the literature I found no truly scientific evidence to refute or establish a definitive answer. Thus any advice is based on surgeons expirence, bias, or antecdotal reports. Most surgeons would agree that for the first several months not to sleep with pressure directly over the implants, until the capsule has matured thus preventing lateral ( outward displacement). After several months and maturation of the capsule, in my opinion it probably doesn't significantly cause implant migration. We all toss and turn at night and probably only stay in the exact sleeping position minutes not hours at a time.
Again this is my opinion and I would advise use a sleeping bra and recommend you assume the best position you can to get the best nights rest!
It really depends how long after the operation.
Ideally for the first 4-6weeks you should avoid direct pressure on the implants. There is no science behind this recommendation just a sensible precaution.
I would also recommend wearing your post-op bra for this period too.
Thank you for your question.
Many patient are concerned with how sleep positions can affect their breast augmentation results but once you have healed from your procedure (four to six weeks) you should be able to sleep in any position comfortable. The fear regarding 'belly sleeping' too early is that the breast capsule has not been formed yet and you could put undue pressure on the breast pocket causing displacement of your implants. I find that 24 hour wear of a light weight compression bra post-operatively helps to prevent displacement as well. With that said, surgeons are not all in agreement on this matter and I would therefore recommend that you discuss this concern with your operating surgeon.
I hope this helps and best of luck!
Many patient are concerned with how sleep positions can affect their breast augmentation results but once you have healed from your procedure (four to six weeks) you should be able to sleep in any position comfortable. The fear regarding 'belly sleeping' too early is that the breast capsule has not been formed yet and you could put undue pressure on the breast pocket causing displacement of your implants. I find that 24 hour wear of a light weight compression bra post-operatively helps to prevent displacement as well. With that said, surgeons are not all in agreement on this matter and I would therefore recommend that you discuss this concern with your operating surgeon.
I hope this helps and best of luck!
Please listen to your surgeon but you should probably wait until after your initial recovery before sleeping on your front. After your surgeon gives you the okay, it should be fine to sleep on your stomach with implants. You won't be injured or cause damage to your implants by doing so.
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I agree that it is fine to sleep on your stomach about 4-6 weeks after your surgery. If you do so before, you might influence the positioning of the implant as the capsule is maturing.
I recommend six weeks of wearing a sports bra at night. I think this helps stabilize the implants and prevent unwanted displacement of the implants while sleeping. I have a concern that lying on the stomach prior to six weeks may change the shape of the pocket for the implants.
After six weeks, anything goes!
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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