"Compression" Bra Versus "Sports" Bra

Hi there-

As my colleagues have mentioned, there is going to be a great deal of variability on this among surgeons...

Here's the bottom line, though...

You chose your surgeon (HOPEFULLY) because he/she is well trained, experienced, easy to get along with, and has a great reputation. You've seen photos of his work and believe he can achieve your goals for you safely.

So that being the case, why would you compromise your surgeon's chances of making you happy by second guessing their protocol- or worse, having your deviation from their postoperative regimen validated by surgeons on this site??

If you chose your surgeon for the right reasons, and your goal is to be safe and happy- you owe it to your surgeon and yourself to follow their instructions to the letter- and even if they are different than what other surgeons might do. 

Thank you for your question. In this case, ask your surgeon, because he knows all the details your case. However, I generally advise my patients to buy two surgical bras for that reason (so you have something to wear while one is being washed). You are spending a fair amount on surgery already, so I would advise you to spend the extra $50 if it will influence your ultimate result.

Thank you for your question. Your surgeon may be wanting to influence the decent of the implants within the breasts over the first six months after surgery as it usually takes several months for the breasts to settle out. If the strap or bra is uncomfortable I would revisit with your surgeon to see if there are other options. I often to transition my patients to a sports bra with a front zipper after a week.  I would recommend following your surgeon's instructions and follow-up.

In the vast majority of patients,
we don’t use a bra strap or surgical bra in the post-operative period.There are exceptions, but these are
rare.In most cases, we place our patients
in a compressive ace wrap dressing which applies mild pressure to the
area.This helps minimize swelling and
makes patients more comfortable.It also
decreases the potential for displacement of the new breast implants within the
newly formed breast pocket.When we
perform submuscular augmentation, we feel that the ace wrap dressing helps to
prevent superior displacement of the breast implants.This can occur with spasm of the pectoralis
major muscles and result in loss of the inferior breast pocket expansion.When superior displacement of implants
occurs, a bra strap may be indicated.The
vast majority of patients are switched to a sports bra one week after
surgery.They wear this bra for about 6
weeks and, in most cases, are able to switch to an underwire bra at that time.It’s
important to realize that every patient’s situation is unique.For this reason, the management of
compression garments needs to be individualized.

Please follow your surgeon's instructions on this. It would probably be okay to wear a sports bra, as long as it provides good support and is soft without underwire, however ask your surgeon.  

Depending on the amount of time after surgery, the need for a compression bra may not be as important. Your surgeon would be the best person to provide you with this advice. The need for compression may vary from one person to another depending on the surgery being performed.

There is a wide range of opinions on this subject, but my preference is for a bra that provides support more than compression. We don't really want to compress the breast into a flatter shape after augmentation. It is important to have the implants securely held in position though. Your surgeon should be able to give you specific advice.

You should follow the advice of your plastic surgeon. All plastic surgeons will have a different routine for post operative care. Your plastic surgeon understands your surgery and your anatomy and is in the best position for making this decision. Some plastic surgeons like underwire bras others want you to avoid their use.

Essentially, the goal of the bra is to support the newly placed implant while the capsule forms and the breast heals. The term "compression" bra is confusing. A supportive cup bra (with or without an underwire) will support the implant. A sports bra will tend to put uniform pressure across the breast, causing it to flatten. Give your plastic surgeon a call and find out what he or she recommends. If you only need a bra for the time while the other is being washed, a $50 specialty bra sounds like a waste of money.

Surgeons will have personal preferences concerning bras right after breast augmentation, and some do not use any at all. The key is support and comfort and we use a soft cup bra without an under-wire, snug on the chest to help set the implant in the pocket, with a band wrap over the breast to keep the area still and reduce swelling and soreness. Patients can be out of the bra long enough to wash them so a second should not be needed.

Best of luck,

peterejohnsonmd