2 Weeks Post Op to my Breast Augmentation, When Can I Start Sleeping on my Side?

Thanks for a good question.  The truth is every surgeon does does a little bit different operation than there colleagues, for example some make snug pockets and others are more aggressive.  Our post-operative philosophies are based on experience with our technique getting a good, predictable response--thus you should follow your surgeon's advise.  In my experience, I do not want patient's to sleep on their side for at least two weeks because I do not want lateral displacement of the implant (toward the armpit), and I also do not want patients to turn over from their side to their stomach-which is easy to do if you are already positioned on your side.  These are some of my reasons, but many of my colleagues may disagree.

During the first 6 weeks we recommend our patients should sleep on their back (or at least on your sides) to maintain the implants in the correct position and help prevent implant malposition. Lying or pressing firmly on the implants, could displace or move the implants in the early healing period. Patients can position pillows on either side of their body to prevent them rolling over in their sleep

Your best source of information on this can be your own surgeon. However, in general, patients may be recommended not to sleep on their sides until around 6 weeks after their breast augmentation surgery.Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Sleeping on your back is recommended for the first few weeks of surgery to minimise any potential wound healing problems or implant displacement concerns. This is my general recommendation but for the very reasons you state, its often not practical.In the beginning, sleeping is generally more comfortable on your back, although propping yourself up on a few pillows or sleeping in a recliner chair for the first few days is what many people find the most comfortable. Assistance getting up and down is often required for these first few days. By the 3rd week a reasonable scar capsule is starting to form around the implant, and by 6 weeks it is very well formed and therefore the implant position is "secured". So ideally you should sleep on your back for the first 6 weeks. Unfortunately this is not practical and I don't want my patients worrying because they woke up and found themselves sleeping on their stomach. Therefore, beyond the first few weeks I don't recommend any particular sleep position. Ultimately you move around in your sleep so no matter what position you go to sleep in, you'll move whilst asleep and your subconscious/sleep state will always adjust itself to a comfortable position.

Thank you for submitting ypur question. I tell my patients to sleep on their back a minimum of 4-6 weeks. Best wishes.  

Following breast augmentation, there’s always the potential
for breast implants to shift and every effort should be made to avoid this
problem.In the post-operative period,
we recommend that patients sleep on their back for 4 to 6 weeks following
surgery. Sleeping
on the abdomen or on the side in the early post-operative period has the
potential to cause shifting of breast implants and should therefore, be
avoided.Sleeping on the back is
difficult for some patients and they often move to their side without knowing
it.For these reasons, we recommend that
patients sleep in a recliner. After 6
weeks, we allow patients to resume all their normal activities without
restrictions.