When can I sleep on my belly after an explant and lift?

After
breast implant revision or removal surgery, I advise the patients to take one week off from work.
At that point we take out their stitches and drains.  The patients may return to work, but may not engage in any
strenuous activity. At one month, the patients start to wear a soft cup
bra with no underwire and can start low impact cardio. This is when it is safe to sleep on your side or belly.  At two months they
can wear an underwire bra and engage in more strenuous physical activity. 

Thank you for your question.  As you have discovered, positioning is difficult with combined procedures.  Discuss your concerns with your surgeon.

Sleeping on your tummy after a lift can put pressure on the incisions and impact your healing. If your surgeon has given the green light you can sleep on your side with proper support. It's always best to closely follow your surgeon's instructions for optimal results.

Best to clarify your plastic surgeon's recommendations directly, asking his/her rationale behind the recommendations. In my practice, I ask patients to avoid sleeping on their abdomens for at least 2 to 3 months after breast lifting surgery to avoid pressure directly on the incision lines. Generally, sleeping on the sides is allowed 2-3 weeks after surgery. Best wishes.

I allow patients to sleep on their stomach several weeks after surgery. It really is more of an issue with comfort rather than worrying about ruining the result.

I recommend that my patients wait at least a minimum of 4 weeks before trying to sleep on their stomach. Initially there may be some discomfort and waiting longer than the 4 weeks may be necessary.