Does a Bra Prevent the Breasts from Moving Outward Making the Breasts Further Apart

Immediately after surgery, a bra can help support implants and keep them from falling too low, but typically the amount of lateral dissection at the time of surgery is the main determinant in how far to the sides the implants go. That being said, the law of gravity does still apply and when you lay on your back, your breasts naturally fall to  the sides because of the curvature of your chest-over time, with big implants, this can lead to the breast and implants moving even more sideways.

 

Regards,

 

Daniel Medalie, MD

After the implants have been properly placed in the breast pocket, the bra is an accessory that can keep them in the proper place if it has been correctly fitted.

If the band size of the bra is too large for the woman's chest, the distance between the two cups will be too wide, and the bra will tend to pull the two breasts apart.  If this kind of bra is worn extensively after breast surgery, it can permanently affect the outcome, making the breasts wider and increasing the gap in the cleavage.

Proper bra fitting is extremely important for the preservation of the surgical outcome and the longevity of the augmentation results.

Ideally the implant and pocket is well centered in the breast and the implant should come to fit hand in glove and move and feel as the breast is one. We use a soft conforming bar and band the first two weeks, day and night, and encourage the similar bra the first eight weeks as the implant and breast tissue settles together. If you are early in healing a bra may help center the implant if the pocket is too far to the side, however after things may not be influenced by a support bra.

Best of luck,

peterejohnsonmd

The bra itsels gives some support, but it will not make the implants stay centrally. Often this is related to how the pocket was created.

The best way to keep breast implants in the proper position is by what is done during surgery. Also, your anatomy can have an effect on where the implants should be placed. Without photos, this is only speculation. Using a bra can help in allowing what was done in surgery to heal properly, but a bra will not correct for implants placed too far to the side. Look at photos of your breasts before and after surgery, if your nipples were far apart before surgery, then this is likely anatomy.

Best of luck

Vincent Marin, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon