Wearing underwire with breast implants?

Question

I've read that wearing an underwire bra frequently can increase likelihood of rupturing implants? Is this true. I wear an underwire bra all day and to sleep (unless I'm exercising) - is this bad? I thought wearing an underwire bra was beneficial for the support.

Martin Jugenburg, MD · Answer

Hello, thank you for your question. That is not true simply put.  We always advise patients to wear a soft bra at night to  help support implants. During the day we always advice underwire to support and delay drooping.  Speak to your plastic surgeon about your concerns.

Brian K. Reedy, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question! I'm not sure that I have seen solid evidence to support that. I like my patients to be in good underwire support. Best of luck!

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS, FAACS · Answer

The implant sometimes folds on itself in a back and forth motion and ruptures or "breaks" much like what happens when folding a paper clip back and forth. This was was proved in my published paper in the link below. Dr. Ted Eisenberg, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Author. RealSelf Distinguished Hall of Fame Inductee. Philadelphia, Pa., USA

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Peaceful9125,
every surgeon has a preferred type of bra that they let their patients wear after breast augmentation, as this would depend on various factors like the type of surgery performed and the size of the implant used. You should discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and follow his or her advice. 
Daniel Barrett, MDCertified, American Board of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Plastic SurgeryMember, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Randal Haworth, MD, FACS · Answer

There is a common myth that wearing an underwire bra can increase the risk of rupturing breast implants, but there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. In fact, wearing a properly fitted bra can provide adequate support and help maintain the shape of the breasts, which can be especially important for women with implants.

It's important to note that wearing an underwire bra that doesn't fit properly can be uncomfortable and potentially harmful to breast tissue. If the underwire is too tight, it can put pressure on the breasts and cause irritation or even lead to mastitis (an infection of the breast tissue). Therefore, it's important to make sure that the bra fits properly and provides enough support without being too tight.

Additionally, wearing a bra to sleep may not be necessary and can be uncomfortable for some women. It's generally recommended to choose a comfortable sleep bra or to go without a bra while sleeping, especially if you find that wearing an underwire bra to bed is uncomfortable.

Overall, wearing an underwire bra that fits properly during the day can be beneficial for women with breast implants, but it's important to choose a bra that is comfortable and not too tight.

Best of luck !

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

After you have healed from breast augmentation you can resume wearing the bra of your choice.  You will want to have a professional bra fitting to ensure you are selecting the correct size.  The bra should be supportive but not too tight.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

Please do not sleep in bras routinely because it does increase your risk of breast cancer. The underwire does not increase the risk of rupture. Support is with the entire bra and not just wires.

Douglas J. Raskin, MD (retired) · Answer

Greetings,
There are many philosophies about the best possible bras for augmented patients. Some docs don't recommend underwires. In our practice we strongly advise our patients to war a properly fit underwire bra.  We check our patients for proper fit after surgery.  We do not, with some exceptions, have our patients sleep in their bras.  The support of the inframammary creases helps assure a stable implant on the chest wall.
Hope this helps.
Best Regards,

Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

Once you have healed following breast implant surgery and you have a well healed scar underneath the breast it is unlikely that an underwire bra will cause a rupture of the implant.

However an underwire bra can compress and irritate your inframammary crease scar and lead to hypertrophic scarring.

If you feel the need to have additional support of an underwire bra please choose a wireless support bra which work just as well as underwire bras to maintain support.

Wearing underwire with breast implants?

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