You may have trouble sleeping following your breast augmentation surgery simply because you’re so excited to see your final results! We get that, but your body needs rest to recover as quickly as possible. A good night’s sleep can help reduce pain and discomfort, and while you’re asleep your body can focus its energy on the healing process.
However, there is a special art to sleeping properly in the days and weeks after your surgery, so let’s talk about the dos and don’ts that will help you get comfortable and protect your new breasts at the same time.
Positioning: Sleep on Your Back
Here’s why:
- Sleeping on your back eliminates potential pressure on your incisions or your implants that could cause shifting or delayed healing. Even sleeping on your side will push the breasts out of position.
- Lying on your back with your upper body partially elevated helps prevent fluid from building up post-surgery.
Here’s how:
The key is to get comfortable, even though this position may be one you would never sleep in otherwise. Comfort (as much as you can manage) will help you get to sleep and make it easier to get up without over-taxing your chest muscles.
- Sleep in a recliner, if you have one, or use pillows to elevate your head and shoulders.
- Place pillows on each side as well, to prevent turning over in your sleep.
- Wear your surgical bra, if Dr. Harris has recommended that, to help keep your breasts well-positioned and supported as you sleep.
- If you absolutely cannot fall asleep in this position, you can sleep flat on your back.
The best way to get your body used to this is to practice ahead of time. Sleeping on your back with head and shoulders elevated for several nights leading up to your surgery will give you a chance to modify pillow positions, elevation angles, etc. until you find what works best for you. That way, you can settle in more comfortably and confidently when you return home from your procedure.
Positioning: Side Sleeping
Dr. Harris recommends that patients continue sleeping on their back with head and shoulders elevated for 1-2 weeks following breast augmentation surgery. At that point, you can graduate to sleeping flat (still on your back, and then to – yippee! – sleeping on your side and, eventually, on your stomach. Every patient is different, so we’ll continue to discuss this with you as you heal.
Sleeping Tips for Breast Augmentation Patients, Post-Surgery
Relax! Emotions, both positive and negative, affect sleep patterns as well as quality of sleep. You may feel frustrated if sleeping on your back isn’t normally your thing, and you will definitely feel pain and discomfort for the first few days. Deliberate relaxation techniques can help alleviate that so you can get the rest you need.
- Walk around. Movement boosts your circulation, which is important for overall health as well as healing. Our Image Surgical Arts team will send you home with detailed written instructions that explain when and how to get needed exercise without overdoing it.
- Practice yoga-style deep breathing before bedtime to calm your body and mind.
- Take a warm shower (in keeping with your at-home instructions) just before bed.
- Keep smiling! Seriously, smiling releases endorphins that help reduce pain and help your body relax. Just think about how great your new breasts are going to look and how good you’re going to feel about yourself once you’re through this initial recovery period.
- Don’t consume caffeine, sugar, or alcohol before bedtime, as these will keep you from falling asleep.
- If need be, take the pain medication Dr. Harris has provided or recommended, but always be aware of the contraindications when taking any medications. Our staff will review this with you before discharge.
If you have any questions or concerns following your breast augmentation surgery, please do not hesitate to reach out! We are here to guide and support you through your journey and recovery is a big part of that. You can always call/text us at 615-499-4224.
