Post Surgery Bra's After Breast Implant Removal?

Wearing compression following removal of implants should help the excess skin to redrape and decrease the possibility of seroma forming.  A seroma is a fluid filled pocket that forms between the skin and muscle after an implant is removed.  Some surgeons may use a drain to keep the pocket clear for about a week and others may not use a drain.  Also, it depends on the laxity of your skin.  If you have exess, thin, fragile skin, it is likely it will not redrape very well.  I have seen women do very well without a mastopexy (lift) after removal and some women chose to hae a breast lift to raise the nipple and rid the excess skin.  I would advise consulting with 2 or 3 reputable, Board Certified Plastic Surgeons, and follow with the doctorwith whom you feel most comfortable.

While I would always recommend deferring to your surgeon's recommendations, in my practice the recommendation is for a snug fitting sports bra or compression garment for 4-6 weeks post op. This will support the tissue and mitigate risks of fluid accumulation in the old implant pocket.As always, discuss your concerns with a board certified plastic surgeon (ABPS)

The use of compression after surgery does vary by surgeon and individual patient.  Its purpose is to not only provide support to the tissues as they heal, but also to help prevent fluid accumulation in the space that was once occupied by the implants.  Your surgeon will advise what is best for you.

The #compression #bra acts as a “dressing,” holding the breasts in position. If the bra feels too tight or hurts, switch immediately to sports type bra that feels comfortable. You should wear the bra at all times for at least three weeks. You will probably be more comfortable if you do not wear an underwire bra but you should always wear support.  It is always recommended to call and see your surgeon to discuss your concerns as each has their own post-op suggestions based on each patient's individual situation.

The post-operative management
following breast implant removal varies from patient to patient and depends
upon a multitude of variables.In most
cases, the decision to use a compressive sports bra is dependent upon
intraoperative factors.When removal of
implants is associated with extensive dissections, both drains and compression
may be indicated.In the vast majority of patient’s, we don’t use a
compressive support bra in the post-operative period.There are exceptions but these are rare.In most cases, we place our patient’s in a
compressive ACE-wrap dressing which applies mild pressure to the area.This helps minimize pain, swelling, and
patient discomfort.It also decreases
the potential for seroma formation and helps remodel the tissue.The vast majority of patient’s are then switched to a
sports bra one week after surgery.They
wear this bra for about six weeks and in most cases are able to switch to an under
wire 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.

Thank you for your question. The advice of your surgeon is very important, and the reason for compression is to prevent fluid accumulation separating the tissue and preventing healing. If you got 6 years out of the pips, you did well as the life span of saline implants is 5-10 years. They had a good idea with a no valve implant, but many barely made it a year or a little longer and ultimately failed. Listen to your surgeon, and ask questions when you have them. I hope this helps.