Will push up bras cause symmastia?

Question

I have 580cc overs, 18 months post op I like to wear push up bras for cleavage, but I have read that because of how they push implants together it will lead to symmastia? Or malposition? They are silimed which I thought one advantage of these is once in place it's hard to move them. Will push up bras lead to complications?

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

Push up bras may lift the skin off the sternum causing problems early after surgery.  After
breast augmentation I find no particular advantage to the use of surgical bras.
In fact, I find that they can do more harm than good. They hold the implants
too high, preventing them from dropping into position. In addition, they can
put pressure on the healing breast or the wound. They provide no advantage. If
the surgery was performed correctly, external appliances after surgery are
unnecessary to achieve the appropriate final implant position. At one month we
allow the patients to wear a soft cup bra with no underwire.  At two
months, they can wear any bra with a wire without push up.  Before three
months it is not wise to buy a whole new set of bras.  By six months, the
bra size is not going to change.  You need to try bras on.  Being
measured is almost never productive and almost always oversizes.  Find the
ones that you like the way they fit.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,The best person to advise you on this is your operating Plastic Surgeon who knows your specific situation the best. If your Implants are an appropriate size for your chest and assuming careful surgical technique, you should be able to wear whatever bras you like but each Plastic Surgeon has their own preferred recommendations for bras.Take care

Keshav Magge, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.  At 18 months you should be fine without worry about displacing the implants with a push up bra.   I caution patients against wearing a push up bra in the early post operative period for fear of preventing the implants from dropping, and being too high up.  Your pectorals muscles prevent the implants from moving together and creating synmastia assuming they were released appropriately.  This far out, you are fine to use a push up bra.  All the best,

Frank J. Ferraro, MD · Answer

My patients are instructed to wear the surgical bra for weeks to months after surgery depending on if they find it comfortabel. In general the surgical garment can enhance your result and underwire bras my take away some the results, but each patient is different.

Naveen Setty, MD · Answer

It is unlikely that this far out after surgery, you will have any difficulty wearing a specific type of bra.  Symmastia is usually caused by surgical error.

Will push up bras cause symmastia?

Answers (10)