If you have undergone breast augmentation, you can expect to wait about four to six weeks for the procedure to heal completely. Breast augmentation is an extensive surgery, and healing can cause some limitations, such as not being able to lift heavy objects or take part in vigorous activities.
Though the healing process can be challenging, it is all well worth the confidence that comes with a successful breast augmentation. Once you recover, the results will undoubtedly outweigh any temporary discomfort.
At New Birkdale Clinic, we want to support our patients through every step of recovery and provide the best advice possible. Getting enough sleep is crucial to recovery, but we understand it can be challenging post-surgery, especially if you are a front sleeper.
Here are our tips for achieving quality sleep when recovering from breast augmentation, including some advice on the best sleeping methods.
The Importance of Good Sleep After Breast Augmentation
Many people take the impact of a good night’s sleep for granted regarding surgery recovery.
Here are just some reasons why getting enough quality sleep is essential for recovering after a breast augmentation surgery:
Healing
Sleep is essential for repairing your body. When asleep, your body increases blood flow to injured tissues and muscles, delivering valuable nutrients and oxygen.
Your brain also releases hormones that stimulate the growth of tissue and repair damage. Your body repairs itself much better when you are asleep, which could result in a much faster healing time.
Scars are to be expected with any breast surgery, but if you follow the right healing process, you can reduce the look of any scarring tremendously.
The faster your body heals, the faster you can return to normality.
Pain Management
When asleep, your body releases endorphins, which are natural pain relievers. Sleep and pain have a direct relationship, and pain can often feel substantially alleviated after a good night of sleep.
Inflammation Reduction
Your body produces cytokines while asleep, these are proteins that help fight inflammation and infection. When you deprive your body of sleep, the production of these protective cytokines slows down, and you are at greater risk of inflammation.
Sleeping after surgery can help reduce inflammation caused by the procedure and help heal the incision area much faster.
Improved Immune System
When we are asleep, our body produces T-cells, which are white blood cells that respond to infections. When you have surgery, you become more susceptible to infection, and so your body must be able to fight it off, or you could experience complications.
Enhanced Blood Circulation
Having good sleep helps in better blood circulation which results in better nutrients and oxygen supply to the wounded area. This can fasten the healing process and cause less complications.
How Much Sleep Should You Get After Breast Augmentation?
It is important to remember that your body does most of its healing while you are asleep, which means the more sleep you get, the better. You should get 7-9 hours of sleep each night and take naps whenever possible.
We understand that sleeping after an operation isn’t always easy, and if you are someone who struggles to sleep most of the time, you may struggle even more after you have had a surgical procedure.
Our surgeons have years of experience supporting patients after their breast augmentation surgery and are familiar with the best methods for helping you sleep after an operation.
How Should You Sleep After Augmentation?
Sleeping on your back with your upper body slightly elevated for the first six weeks of recovery is always recommended. Sleeping on your back is generally recommended in day-to-day life, as it can help with back pain and soreness of the spine.
Sleeping on your back can have a lot of other benefits unrelated to your surgery, such as reducing wrinkles and providing relief from congestion, so you may feel the benefit of adopting sleeping on your back as a part of your routine.
Why You Should Sleep on Your Back
Sleeping on your back will help speed up recovery and promote your body’s healing. It will also allow your breasts to sit in a relaxed position and ensure there is no pressure on your chest, which will allow the incisions on your breast to heal much faster.
If you frequently get up throughout the night, sleeping on your back can reduce the strain on your body when you get up, allowing your breasts to heal much faster.
Sleeping on Your Side as an Alternative Option
We understand that sleeping on your back is not easy for everyone, and breaking habits you have developed over several years can be hard. If you really struggle with sleeping on your back, alternatively, you should consider side sleeping after a breast augmentation.
Please note that you should not sleep on your side immediately after your augmentation, but you can start to sleep on your side after a couple of weeks. You must avoid putting pressure on your breasts, so you should still be elevated while you sleep.
Taking extra precautions is essential when sleeping on your side to ensure that everything heals smoothly and you do not cause yourself further pain.
If you sleep on your side, you should place a large pillow under your breasts to keep them supported, and if possible, wear an approved surgical bra to make sure that your implants are kept in place while you are sleeping.
Remember, though sleeping on your side is an option, you should sleep on your back if possible, as this will allow you to heal much faster.
Take Support of Pillows
To help with a better blood circulation and rest in the elevated position, take support of pillows under your knees. This can also reduce lower back pain. Using pillows on your either side can also prevent from excess body movement.
Tips for Getting Better Rest After Breast Augmentation
If you are having a difficult time falling asleep after your breast augmentation surgery, you may be finding recovery hard. At New Birkdale Clinic, our experts have years of experience helping our patients adjust to sleeping after surgery, and some of our best tips include:
Resist Sleeping On your Stomach Or Side
Preparing your body before undergoing breast augmentation surgery can make adjusting to a new way of sleeping much easier. Get in practice of not sleeping on your stomach that can compress your breast and cause issues after the surgery.
Sleeping on the side can put pressure on implants which can shift them from their position and make your breast look asymmetric.
Adopting new sleeping habits before your surgery will also make it much easier to adjust after your surgery has been completed.
Take Pain Medications Before Bed
When you have any surgical procedure, you will be prescribed medication to help with the pain. It is important that you do not abuse this medication, as it may make it less effective and prevent you from achieving your desired results.
You should plan your medication times to align with when you are scheduled to go to sleep. This will ensure that you feel the benefits of your medication before bed. It should also help you sleep better, as it will dull any feelings of pain.
Avoid Anything That Disrupts Sleep
If you are struggling to sleep due to pain, it can be tempting to use products that may make you feel more awake during the day, such as caffeine and sugar. If you want to get the best quality sleep, you should avoid any sleep disruptors at least five hours after the event.
Wear a Supportive Bra
A big reason you may be struggling to fall asleep is discomfort. However, it is expected that you will feel a certain level of discomfort after any surgery; a great way to avoid this after breast surgery is by wearing a supportive surgery bra.
Wearing a surgery bra can reduce swelling and ease tension around your incisions, making it much easier for you to rest.
Find Out More About Breast Augmentations
We hope that this blog has taught you that although discomfort is to be expected after breast augmentation, there are ways to overcome this discomfort, and it is possible to be well-rested after your surgery. If you have more questions about what we have discussed in this blog or would like to inquire about our breast augmentation prices, contact our team; they will be happy to answer any questions or book a consultation to learn more about our augmentation services.
