Do you have large breasts that are killing your back, neck, and shoulders? Undergoing surgery to reduce the size can lead to stunning results that may provide more comfort.
Whether you’re scheduled for the cosmetic procedure or still looking into it, one of the most common pieces of advice you’ll come across is the need to wear a bra for almost 24 hours a day during the recovery period after the surgery.
However, this can get uncomfortable over time so it is only natural that you’d wonder how long you’ll be required to wear the bra day and night. This concern may even be higher among women who prefer going to bed naked.
When can you sleep without a bra after breast reduction surgery? The answer is 6-8 weeks, but it can vary since each patient’s body is different. Confirm with your board certified plastic surgeon to find out the exact number of weeks. The surgical technique, experience, and the surgeon’s level of training can also influence how long it takes for the wounds to heal.
What Types of Bras Are Recommended During Sleep and Post Procedure?
Each surgeon has a specific set of post-operative recommendations for patients who have undergone breast reduction surgery. Wearing a bra day and night will probably be the most important piece of advice. Since you will wear the bra a lot, it is also important to choose the right type of bra.
Here are the most popular types of bras frequently prescribed by surgeons for breast augmentation patients.
Surgical bras: Just like the name sounds, these are specialized bras prescribed for women post-surgery which feature high-end fabrics with a modest trim and no wires or dyes. They provide comfort for day and night wearing while offering world-class support for the recovering breasts 24/7.
Sports bras: Typically made for providing support during running or other physically-demanding activities, these bras can be a smart choice after breast reduction. They may not only provide soothing relief for discomfort but can also restrict breast movement and resultant pain.
Stabilizing elastic support strap: Also known as implant stabilizer bands, these straps are manufactured from soft and breathable fabrics. They come in an adjustable front closure with a hook-and-loop design to provide a balance between compression and comfort.
Supportive non-underwire bra: The lack of wires in these bras can mean superior levels of comfort after breast reduction. Wireless bras can also provide better sleep especially among women who are easily rattled and stay awake for hours before dozing off.
The Glamorise Full Figure Plus Size MagicLift Original Wirefree Support Bra from Amazon provided amazing comfort and support for my girlfriend after breast surgery. She highly recommends it for breast reduction recovery.
Benefits of Wearing a Bra During Sleep After Breast Reduction
Except for the few minutes patients spend in the shower, doctors recommend wearing one type of bra or the other up to eight weeks after surgery. Most women have no problems following this advice during the daytime.
The tricky bit may come at night when they’re tempted to sleep with the bare breasts. However, there are several benefits of wearing a bra during breast reduction surgery recovery overnight and a few of those are as follows:
1. Shaping
The fact that you may have opted to decrease the size of your breasts does not mean their shape should suffer. Wearing a bra for bed cannot only enhance the shaping but can also improve the “lifting” of the new breasts.
It is no secret that every woman dreams of having shapely boobs with an upright appearance at every stage of life. If you’re middle-aged, gone through a few pregnancies, or experienced weight fluctuations a few times in the past, your boobs may show signs of droopiness.
Breast reduction surgery can be an opportunity to breathe a new lease of life into the breasts and transform their appearance. If you’ve always had issues with the looks of your boobs, wearing a bra during sleep after surgery can help correct that.
2. Stability and Positioning
The wrong positioning of the breasts can lead to the appearance of a deformity and this can knock down a woman’s confidence levels significantly. The good news is that wearing a bra 24/7 after surgery can give each patient complete control over the positioning of her breasts.
Wearing a bra at partial periods or ditching it completely can also lead to shifting of breast implants which may result in a shape different from the surgeon’s efforts. Shifted implants may also promote Breast Asymmetry, the medical term that describes the appearance of one breast being bigger than the other.
In severe cases, patients may be forced to opt for additional surgery to correct the deformity which can result in extra costs as well as the trauma of undergoing the knife to augment the breasts all over again.
3. Compression
Wearing a bra during sleep after breast reduction can provide world-class compression for surgical wounds which may be beneficial in a variety of ways. Firstly, adequate compression can minimize the risk of infections after surgery.
It may also help reduce the bruising and swelling of the surgical site after the procedure. This can supercharge the healing process by draining the wounds of extra blood and fluids that may be causing the swelling.
Therefore, the patient can get on her feet sooner rather than later which can make her life more comfortable. The compression from wearing a post-operative bra can also help meet the surgeon’s recovery period estimates after breast reduction.
4. Comfort
Breast reduction surgery can be extremely painful. The process typically involves a surgeon making an incision around the patient’s areola and down the breasts to remove excess fat, breast tissue, and skin. The breasts are then reshaped to look smaller.
This complicated process can result in severe pain described by patients as similar to a continuous pulling or stretching of the boobs. Wearing a bra can minimize the ” breast pulling or stretching” pain leading to enhanced comfort especially at bedtime when you may be struggling to nod off.
5. Support
Waking up to new, smaller breasts after surgery can feel awkward especially during walking or other movements. The good news is that wearing a bra can provide the much-needed support to help you ease into the smaller breasts.
Additionally, the support provided by wearing a bra day and night can minimize the impact of the patient’s body weight on the breasts, especially among stomach sleepers. After all, even the slightest pressure on the new breasts can result in pain. A bra during the day and the night might be a great idea.
Risks of Not Wearing a Bra Too Soon After Surgery
Are you struggling to sleep with a bra after breast reduction surgery? The temptation to ignore the doctor’s recommendations by skipping bra-wearing at bedtime can be high. However, that may be counterproductive in numerous ways including:
Shifting Implants: Shifting implants can be a real problem among women who have undergone a breast reduction. This is common among those who had breast enlargement surgery earlier and decided to go down a few cups by getting smaller implants. Going to bed without a bra can rob the new boobs of the stability required to keep the implants in the surgeon’s intended position and angle.
Interfere with healing: Failure to wear a post-surgical bra 24/7 (except for bathing times) can prevent the new breasts from getting the needed level of compression. This can slow down the healing process and lengthen the work or school absence period.
Discomfort from gravity: Gravity can increase a patient’s surgical pain after undergoing breast surgery by drifting the bruising to the underboob area. Wearing a bra day and night can reduce the impact of gravity meaning lower levels of discomfort especially at bedtime.
Best Sleeping Position After Breast Reduction Surgery
Sleeping in the right position after the procedure can lower the risk of aggravating the surgery wounds. Shall we take a look at the effect of each position on the patient’s comfort and recovery after breast reduction?
Back Sleeping: The best sleeping position after breast reduction surgery is to sleep on the back. This position reduces the swelling and bruising process as well as the risk for painful stretching that harm your breasts. It is also recommended to elevate your upper body to improve blood circulation and overall healing.
Side Sleeping: If you’re a side sleeper, you may be able to revert to the sides after lying down on the back the first 2 weeks after surgery. However, be sure to choose the side that offers minimal pressure to the new boobs.
Stomach Sleeping: Sleeping on the tummy should be out of the question after breast reduction. If this is your favorite position, you need to learn how to get comfortable on the back in the weeks before the surgery.
How To Sleep After Breast Reduction Surgery
Sleep can be critical to the speed of healing as well as the overall well-being of breast reduction surgery patients. Lying down on the back may be a great start but there are extra tips that can be incorporated into the patient’s sleep routine for superior results.
A few of these may include:
1. Get Enough Sleep
No amount of sleep is excessive after breast reduction. Even if you’re used to enjoying only a few hours of shuteye at night, this is the time to make an effort to nod off for longer periods. The aim should be at least 8-10 hours of sleep per night.
Learning the habit of taking naps in the afternoon can also be a great way to enhance tissue repair and growth around the new breasts. This can elevate the healing process while lowering the severity of scars developed.
As long as you treat nighttime rest as a priority, the rate of your recovery can gain a significant boost to improve overall health.
2. Cool down your new breasts
Ice packs can be your best buddy after undergoing the surgeon’s knife to reduce the size and improve the firmness of your breasts. This is because placing ice packs on the breast area can provide compression of the bruised tissues to numb any pain you may be experiencing.
Unfortunately, many patients report higher levels of discomfort at bedtime. Therefore, applying ice packs on the breasts for 20 minutes every hour for at least 3-4 hours before hitting the hay can work well.
However, avoid putting the packs directly on the surgery site to prevent the risk of ice burns. Instead, wrap it in a towel and place it on the bruised breasts to numb the pain and improve comfort.
3. Wear a Bra
You already know the importance of wearing a post-operative bra for 24 hours, seven days a week. Doctors might prescribe one type of bra and the onus will be on you to wear it every minute including at bedtime.
If the prescribed bra seems too firm for comfort, discuss alternatives with the surgeon to find a more comfortable option. Always choose a bra that fits well. Obtaining the wrong size can lead to severe discomfort or lack of adequate compression and support for your new breasts.
4. Pain Medications
Surgeons are fully aware of the level of pain a patient may go through after breast reduction. This is why they usually prescribe over the counter anti-inflammatories to help with the pain.
These medications operate by inhibiting the transmission of pain signals from the injury site to the brain. The result can be improved sleep comforts thanks to the reduced level of pain the medications can trigger.
This is why being mindful of the surgeon’s dosage instructions and sticking to it can be so important. Also, avoid the temptation of skipping pain medications even if you think you have a high pain threshold.
5. Reading in Bed
Did you know that reading offers superior relaxation to the brain compared to other renowned methods such as listening to music or even undertaking nighttime walks? The time spent recovering at home can be a great period to indulge in a love of reading.
Whether you prefer fiction or true life, crime or sci-fi, there’s a lot of interesting material that can calm the mind. Reading interesting subjects can also serve as a healthy distraction from the pain you may be experiencing in the breast.
Falling asleep should become much easier as a result.
Conclusion
It can take 6-8 weeks to be able to sleep without a bra after breast reduction surgery. The exact period could depend on the patient’s age, weight, and other personal factors as well as the surgeon’s surgical method, training, and experience.
Often, the surgeon will provide an exact timeline for recovery, and depending on your progress, this estimate may be updated as and when necessary.
Whatever the time frame given by your surgeon, wearing a supportive bra religiously during those 6-8 weeks can be critical to the results. Especially in terms of the shaping, positioning, and symmetry of the breasts.