Why is it important to wear a sports bra after explant?

Question

Why is it important to wear a sports bra after explant ? Will results improve more if one wears a sports bra longer than a month ?

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

hello cmf89 Dressings: These will vary from patient to patient. Some patients may be placed in a bra; others will wear an elastic bandage. Your doctor will decide after surgery and in subsequent weeks, which dressing will suit your needs. #results #sportsbra

Goretti Ho Taghva, MD, FACS · Answer

Wearing a sports bra after explantation allows compression of the breast cavity to avoid formation of a "dead space" where fluid can potentially build up. Other than avoiding formation of a seroma, it typically does not improve the aesthetic result. 4-6 weeks of daily compression should be sufficient.

Goretti H. Taghva MD

Goretti H. Taghva MD

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

The purpose of the sports bra is to try to prevent fluid accumulation in the pocket where the implant once was.  The compression on the tissues by the sports bra helps with this.  It typically will not affect the overall look.  The length of time recommended to wear it will vary by surgeon.  Check with yours to see what is best for you.

Ben Brown, MD (license emergency restriction) · Answer

Your implants will have created a pocket in your chest in which they sit. Once the implants are removed, then this pocket is empty and therefore creates a space in which fluid could accumulate (seroma). Wearing a sports bra will help to provide compression on your chest in order to reduce the risk of this fluid building up in the space.

Scott L. Replogle, MD (retired) · Answer

It probably isn't important to wear a bra of any type after a simple implant explant. If it was a simple explant, only the incision needs to heal. The worry is that blood or fluid will build up in the space where the implant was inside the capsule and the compression of the bra will help prevent this. In my experience it doesn't seem to make any difference and even if fluid where to build up (blood is highly unlikely in a simple removal without doing anything to the capsule), it's very easy to drain off with no implant there to worry about. I recommend wearing the bra for a week after explant but don't require it.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

Compression bras assist in healing by keeping the tissue compressed to avoid an open cavity which can accumulate fluid and delay healing.

Why is it important to wear a sports bra after explant?

Answers (6)

More Breast Implant Removal Questions

Do breasts look deformed if breast implants are removed?

Is there anything that I can do to improve the look and shape of my breast? 5 months post-op. (Photos)

Does having a capsulectomy cause your breasts to be smaller?

Air in breast cavity after explant, is this normal?

My left breast is numb after explant, is this normal?

Will I need a lift if I remove breast implants? If so, is it best to do at the time of removal or at a later date? (Photo)

WE SEND PRETTY
EMAILS