Underwire Bra After Breast Reduction.....How Long Should I Wait?

Every board certified plastic surgeon will have their own post op protocol to follow. I advise my patients to return to wearing underwire bras at 6 weeks post op.

Every doctor has different post op instructions so you should ask your surgeon what would work for you. The dressings vary from patient to patient. Some patients may be placed in a sports bra; others will wear a stabilizing elastic support strap. Your doctor will decide after surgery and in subsequent weeks, which dressing will suit your needs

We generally
avoid using underwire bras for six to eight weeks following breast reduction
surgery.In the immediate post-operative
period an underwire bra has the potential to irritate a fresh surgical
incision.An inframammary incision would
be directly beneath the underwire and this might irritate the incision.After six to eight weeks wound healing would
no longer be an issue.In most breast
reduction patients it’s reasonable to resume the use of an underwire bra at
this time.

I agree that it is best to ask your plastic surgeon on their preferences.  I personally prefer my patients to wait 3-4 weeks, or untill the incisions are completely healed and an under wire can be worn comfortably. 

Kindest regards,

Neil J. Zemmel

Recommendations as to when to be able to wear an underwire bra varies among plastic surgeons. You should inquire of your operating plastic surgeon to determine what his/her approach is. Typically, my patients will wait several weeks, often around a month, before wearing one.

The under-wire issue after breast reduction is a question of comfort, and the reduction pattern used. As most of our patients will have a vertical or short scar pattern, the can return to an under-wire after the first two weeks. If a full 'T' pattern was needed the under-wire on the horizontal closure may be uncomfortable at two weeks and a soft bra may be better several weeks longer or until the sensitivity subsides.
Best of luck,
peterjohnsonmd

In general, it is best to ask these type of questions of your surgeon who knows you and your postoperative (healing) course best. Having said that, I think it is your best interests to wait as long as possible to use bras  with wiring. The use of a soft bra  may avoid irritation of the immature scars and prove the final appearance of the scars. In my practice, this time off underwire bra is usually one year postoperatively.

I hope this helps.

I agree that this is a question best asked of your sugeon.  In general I think patients should wait for about six weeks after everything has healed.  The pressure of the underwire on the scar might actually be beneficial in some patients help flatten a hypertrophic scar.