Ask a doctor

When can you sleep on your side after lift and augmentation? What's the best way to care for them during night?

  • Jls72
  • South Carolina, SC
  • 9 months ago
Right now I am sleeping in the bra my plastic surgeon gave me. Will I have to wear a sports bra to bed forever? I'm a side sleeper so it's kind of hard to get a good nights sleep right now almost 2 weeks out.

Doctor Answers 6

2 weeks post op, some advices:

September 17th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thanks for the question.

In my practice, after performing a BA I recommend to my patients to limit the movement of the arms for two weeks. After that, you can move your arms taking care and always with common sense. 
In this regard, it's not advisable to carry heavy weights to prevent the implant out of position, and allow the formation of the physiological capsule around the implant, also to avoid pain and breast swelling. 

Kind regards

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD


Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon
4.7 out of 5 stars 292 reviews

September 17th, 2016

2 weeks post op, some advices:

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Thanks for the question.

In my practice, after performing a BA I recommend to my patients to limit the movement of the arms for two weeks. After that, you can move your arms taking care and always with common sense. 
In this regard, it's not advisable to carry heavy weights to prevent the implant out of position, and allow the formation of the physiological capsule around the implant, also to avoid pain and breast swelling. 

Kind regards

Emmanuel Mallol Cotes, MD


Dominican Republic Plastic Surgeon
4.7 out of 5 stars 292 reviews

Sleeping Position Post Op

September 16th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Hello,


Each Plastic Surgeon has their own preferred post op protocols. I allow my patients to sleep on back or side post op and I do advise a supportive surgical bra to be worn both day and night for 8 weeks. I recommend that you contact your plastic Surgeon and ask what they recommend for you.


All the best

Web reference: http://edelsteincosmetic.com/learning-centre/things-you-should-know-about-breast-augmentation-recovery-time/

Jerome Edelstein, MD
September 16th, 2016

Sleeping Position Post Op

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

Hello,


Each Plastic Surgeon has their own preferred post op protocols. I allow my patients to sleep on back or side post op and I do advise a supportive surgical bra to be worn both day and night for 8 weeks. I recommend that you contact your plastic Surgeon and ask what they recommend for you.


All the best

Learn more: http://edelsteincosmetic.com/learning-centre/things-you-should-know-about-breast-augmentation-recovery-time/

Jerome Edelstein, MD

Sleep

September 16th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It's always best to check with your surgeon about his or her protocol, but I advise my patients that they can sleep in any position in which they feel comfortable from the night of surgery on. My patients have never experienced problems with this approach. My augmentation/lift patients wear a sports bra day and night for two weeks and then for only 16 hours a day for another month. Hope this helps you. For more information on this and similar topics, I recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths."

Web reference: http://www.lookingnatural.com

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS
September 16th, 2016

Sleep

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

It's always best to check with your surgeon about his or her protocol, but I advise my patients that they can sleep in any position in which they feel comfortable from the night of surgery on. My patients have never experienced problems with this approach. My augmentation/lift patients wear a sports bra day and night for two weeks and then for only 16 hours a day for another month. Hope this helps you. For more information on this and similar topics, I recommend a plastic surgery Q&A book like "The Scoop On Breasts: A Plastic Surgeon Busts the Myths."

Learn more: http://www.lookingnatural.com

Ted Eisenberg, DO, FACOS

Lift and augmentation

September 16th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

I prefer patients to sleep on their back until they are comfortable enough to sleep on their side.  Best of luck.

Web reference: https://www.stevenwallachmd.com/breast/breast-lift/

Steven Wallach, MD
September 16th, 2016

Lift and augmentation

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}

I prefer patients to sleep on their back until they are comfortable enough to sleep on their side.  Best of luck.

Learn more: https://www.stevenwallachmd.com/breast/breast-lift/

Steven Wallach, MD

Sleeping Position after Breast Augmentation and Lift #breastaugmentation #breastlift

September 15th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
  • I allow my patients to sleep in whichever position they find most comfortable after breast augmentation/lift.
  • At two weeks, post-operatively you should be just fine sleeping on your side. 
  • Thanks for sharing!
Joshua Cooper, MD, FACS
September 15th, 2016

Sleeping Position after Breast Augmentation and Lift #breastaugmentation #breastlift

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
  • I allow my patients to sleep in whichever position they find most comfortable after breast augmentation/lift.
  • At two weeks, post-operatively you should be just fine sleeping on your side. 
  • Thanks for sharing!
Joshua Cooper, MD, FACS

Basic postop instructions

September 15th, 2016
{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Your plastic surgeon's office should have discussed this with you. I would defer to him or her for this. In our practice, postop garments are worn for 6 weeks, after which point any bra may be used. Whether a lift was performed or not, I advise my patients to sleep only on their back for 6 weeks. This minimizes wound complications if a lift was performed, as well as excessive lateral or medial implant displacement leading to possible asymmetry. Best wishes,Dr. Ravi Somayazula

Web reference: http://www.bodybyravi.com/before-after-photos-houston/breast-augmentation/

Ravi Somayazula, DO
September 15th, 2016

Basic postop instructions

{{ voteCount >= 0 ? '+' + (voteCount + 1) : (voteCount + 1) }}
Your plastic surgeon's office should have discussed this with you. I would defer to him or her for this. In our practice, postop garments are worn for 6 weeks, after which point any bra may be used. Whether a lift was performed or not, I advise my patients to sleep only on their back for 6 weeks. This minimizes wound complications if a lift was performed, as well as excessive lateral or medial implant displacement leading to possible asymmetry. Best wishes,Dr. Ravi Somayazula

Learn more: http://www.bodybyravi.com/before-after-photos-houston/breast-augmentation/

Ravi Somayazula, DO

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.