Shopping for a new wardrobe, including new bras, is one of the things women look forward to most after breast augmentation. However, patience is crucial immediately after surgery. While it’s understandable that you’ll be excited to try on tops, bras and bikinis that highlight your new figure, you’ll need to wait awhile before going on a shopping spree.
Factors Impacting How Long You Must Wait to Wear a Bra after Breast Augmentation
One of the most important factors impacting the length of time required before wearing a bra after breast augmentation is the type of implant you choose. It may take as long as a month before you’re able to wear a bra with saline implants. However, women who choose silicone breast implants will need to wear a sports bra shortly after their breast augmentation procedure in order to receive the proper support while they heal.
Another factor is the texture and shape of your breast implant:
- Smooth, round-shaped implants – These take longer to settle into place. Wearing a bra before this occurs can potentially cause you to develop irregularities in your breast shape.
- Textured, teardrop-shaped implants – Extra compression and support will be needed during your recovery to prevent these implants from rotating, which will create an unnatural breast appearance. We recommend wearing a sports bra while you recover to avoid this issue.
Wait 3 Months before Buying New Bras
In general, most women are able to wear bras within 4-6 weeks of their procedure, depending on the type of implant used. However, our plastic surgeons recommend waiting to buy new bras until three months after surgery. Often, there will be some residual swelling for several months, and it make also take time for your breast implants to drop into position in the breast pocket. If you buy new bras before you’ve fully healed, you may find that they don’t fit properly once your final results are noticeable.
In order to avoid this situation, it’s best to buy a few inexpensive bras for the recovery period. Make sure the bras you purchase are comfortable and don’t contain underwire. Underwire bras can potentially irritate the incision site, so you’ll need to avoid wearing them until you’ve fully healed.
Contact our St. Louis Plastic Surgeons
Please contact Renaissance Plastic Surgery using the form on this page or call 636-896-0600 today to schedule a breast augmentation consultation. We serve patients in St. Louis and the surrounding areas of Missouri.