How Long To Wear Ace Bandage After Breast Augmentation >Though there are many different types of augmentation procedures, usually patients undergo surgery that involves expansion of their breast tissue by inserting an implant filled with saline solution or silicone gel. This is because implants stay soft and natural feeling while they make breasts look fuller, more rounded, and more balanced.
The ace bandage is a common method of support after a breast augmentation procedure. It can help to reduce swelling and pain, as well as help to maintain the shape of your new breasts. However, how long should you wear the ace bandage after your surgery?
The answer is dependent on several factors. Second, you’ll want to consider whether or not you’ll be able to secure the ace bandage properly without assistance from others.
The time to wear an ace bandage after breast augmentation varies, based on the type of surgery that was performed.
It’s important to follow the specific instructions given to you by your surgeon, but in general, you can expect your surgeon to recommend wearing a bandage for 1-2 days after surgery.
Some surgeons may recommend wearing one for 3 days or more. In some cases, a custom-made compression garment may be used instead of a traditional ace bandage. read more on How To Wrap Breasts With Ace Bandage/Do Breast Bands Help Implants Drop.
How Long To Wear Ace Bandage After Breast Augmentation
The best way to tell if your compression band is too tight is if it causes pain or discomfort in any way. If either of these things happens, talk with your doctor about loosening the pressure until they go away.
How long should I wear the ace bandage after breast augmentation?
How long should I wear the ace bandage after breast augmentation?
If you have had a breast augmentation, you may be wondering how long you should wear the ace bandage after surgery. The answer depends on how much swelling you have, but generally, it’s best to keep it on for 24 hours.
It is important to keep your incisions clean during this time and to avoid lifting anything heavy (or doing any other strenuous activity) until your doctor says it is okay. Once your doctor has removed the ace bandage and examined your incisions, he or she will recommend when you can remove the packing that was placed inside your breasts during surgery.
If you’re planning to have breast augmentation, you may be wondering how long you should wear an ace bandage after surgery. Ace bandages are used in many different ways, including to support the breasts after surgery. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to wearing ace bandages after breast augmentation, there are some general guidelines that can help you know what’s best for your body and recovery.
How Long Should Ace Bandages Stay On?
Ace bandages can be worn anywhere from two weeks up until two days after surgery — depending on how much support they offer and how quickly your body heals itself. Your surgeon will let you know exactly how long he or she recommends wearing an ace bandage for post-surgery recovery purposes based on what type of implant was used and other factors like swelling and pain levels.
How long do you wear the ace bandage after breast augmentation?
The answer depends on your surgeon’s preference. Most surgeons recommend that you wear the ace bandage for about a week after surgery. In some cases, your surgeon may ask you to wear it longer.
It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions about how long to wear an ace bandage after breast augmentation because it can reduce swelling and help prevent infection.
You’ll also be asked to wear compression garments or bras following surgery. These products help keep your breasts from shifting while they heal, which reduces the risk of complications such as capsular contracture.
The tightness of your compression band depends on the type of implant you’ve chosen.
If you’re using silicone gel implants, the band should be tight enough to hold them in place without causing discomfort or pain. The band should not be so tight that it becomes a source of pain itself, though.
If you’re using saline implants, there’s less chance that the band will need to be tight at all—these types of implants are much lighter than silicone gel ones and can be easily held in place by your own tissue.
If your band is too loose, you may experience a poor cosmetic result as well as discomfort because of movement in the implant.
If you’re concerned about your band being too loose, talk to your surgeon about it. They may be able to tighten it for you or give you advice on how to keep your band from slipping.
How To Wrap Breasts With Ace Bandage
- To bind your chest, experts recommend using a chest binder for the safest and most effective results.
- If you are unable to purchase a chest binder, you may be able to use a sports bra, or wear loose-fitting clothing to effectively flatten the appearance of your chest.
- However, there are many health risks that come with chest binding, so it’s important to understand how to do it properly.
- This article was medically reviewed by Zil Goldstein, the associate medical director of Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Health at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York.
Chest binding flattens your chest to create a masculine or non-binary appearance. Since breasts are seen as a traditionally feminine characteristic, chest binding can help individuals alleviate gender dysphoria, which is a discomfort toward one’s physical or perceived gender expression.
When done correctly, chest binding can effectively flatten your chest without major health risks. When done incorrectly, you may risk adverse health effects like obstructed breathing and cutting off circulation to your extremities, says Ellen Selkie, MD, an adolescent pediatrician who specializes in LGBT+ youth at Michigan Medicine.
The best way to chest bind is by using a garment specifically designed for chest binding, says David Rosenthal, MD, the medical director of the Center for Transgender Care at Northwell Health in New York.
However, if you are not able to purchase a chest binder or prefer another option, you may be able to use sports bras or kinesiology tape, like TransTape, as a safe replacement to flatten the appearance of your chest, though experts recommend a commercial chest binder.
Here’s what you need to know to bind your chest safely, with a binder or without.
What is a chest binder?
A chest binder is a garment designed to flatten the appearance of your chest — but still be flexible enough to allow the rib cage to expand and let you breathe. Binders can cover your torso and extend down towards your diaphragm. Others extend down to the hips.
The length of garment depends on your preference. Some people only want their chest compressed. Others may opt for full-torso compression to flatten hips, stomach, and otherwise create a more masculine appearance.
Where to get a chest binder
Binders are typically sold online and cost around $30. Some of the most popular brands include GC2B, founded in 2015 by Marli Washington, a trans man who studied product design at the University of the Arts Industrial Design. Underworks also sells chest binders, though they’re not specifically made for transgender individuals.
Selkie stresses the importance of finding a properly fitting binder when you first start. Tight binders can cut off breathing, irritate your skin, or give you back pain — and loose binders won’t give you the proper chest compression you want.
If purchasing your binder online, have a good look at the binder sizing chart and mark down your own measurements with a tape measure. The GC2B sizing chart, for example, requires measurements around the chest and between your shoulders. For a binder, chest measurements must be taken around the nipples, as it has the most breast tissue. Always round up when taking torso measurements.
“Some people might think that going down a size will make their chest look even flatter, but properly sized binders are already designed to be tight and going any tighter could cause health problems,” Selkie says.
Selkie also recommends looking at the site’s binder return policy in case yours doesn’t fit, as well as redoing your measurements if you gain or lose more than 15 pounds to ensure you get the right binder size.
How to put on a binder
You can try putting on a binder like you would a sports bra — pull it over your head and then stick your arms through. However, binders are especially tight when you first buy them, so you might find it difficult to put on.
If the sports bra method of putting on the binder doesn’t work for you, consider this alternative method of putting on a binder:
- Flip the binder inside out. Then turn it upside down and step into it like you’re putting on a pair of shorts.
- Pull the binder over your hips until it reaches your chest. The binder should be covering your stomach, but may feel a little too tight around your hips. If your binder makes audible tearing noises as you pull it up your legs, stop immediately. You could rip your binder and damage the compression material.
- Put your arms through the arm holes. The binder should fit snugly around your shoulders and chest, providing an even compression.
- Adjust the binder. Move your breasts in a position that feels comfortable, yet compressed. In the end, your binder should feel like a larger, tighter sports bra. You shouldn’t feel like you’re being cut or squeezed.
How long you should wear a chest binder
Both Selkie and Rosenthal say that you shouldn’t wear a chest binder for more than eight consecutive hours, otherwise you’re more likely to experience back pain, breathing problems, and other side effects.
Overall, you should take plenty of breaks every hour or two when you first use your binder, and set aside one day a week in which you don’t use your binder at all so that your body adjusts to the compression.
Remember to follow these important tips to wear your binder safely:
When to see a doctor
Commercial chest binders can be used without medical supervision, but you should stop using the binder and see a medical professional if you experience the following side effects.
On rare occasions, Selkie says, binding can cause:
- Rib fractures
- Scarring
Otherwise, take off your binder and consider purchasing a looser version if you experience:
- Back pain
- Skin problems such as rashes, acne, sores, and skin infections
- Restricted breathing
- Shortness of breath
- Chest tightness or chest pain
- Bruising, redness, or sweating
- Dehydration or decreased urine output
According to GC2B, discomfort is a sign that your body needs a break from binding. However, many people experience these side effects. For example, a 2015 study published in Culture, Health, and Sexuality found that nearly 54% of the 1,800 chest binding participants experienced back pain.
You should not wear your binder through the pain. Some tips, like keeping a straight posture, can help you stave off an aching back. But overall, Rosenthal says you should talk to your doctor and look for a more comfortable binder if you experience any of the side effects above.
How to bind your chest without a binder
While chest binders provide the safest binding experience, it’s possible to safely bind your chest without a chest binder.
Certain drag performers, for example, don’t want to permanently compress their chest while singing or dancing, but they still need the appearance of a flat chest.
If you don’t have a binder, three safe ways to create the appearance of a flatter chest are with a sports bra, baggy clothing, and TransTape. These will not completely flatten the chest for many people, so those who still dislike the appearance of their breasts and prefer not to use a chest binder may consider a mastectomy, or “top surgery,” to permanently flatten the chest.
Sports bra
Rosenthal says sports bras effectively reduce the appearance of breasts, and tight sports bras may even help flatten a small chest. Those with a larger bust may consider doubling up, wearing a sports bra about one size lower underneath your regular size.
As with a chest binder, though, you should stop if you experience discomfort when doubling up on sports bras. Don’t wear purposefully tight bras for more than eight hours.
Loose-fitting clothing
Rosenthal also notes the transformative power of wearing baggy clothes. Loose-fitting clothes, such as baggy sweatshirts or T-shirts, can reduce chest prominence and reinvent your appearance.
Even throwing on a big zip-up hoodie over any clothes can help hide your chest. Try keeping one around on days you’re taking a break from your binder.
TransTape
There’s also TransTape. It’s similar to the kinetic tape used for athletic injuries, but is specifically designed for chest compression.
“It might not be as effective for people with larger chests, and for people with sensitive skin it might cause some irritation, but is definitely an alternative to binders if used correctly,” Selkie says.
Here’s how to bind your chest with Trans Tape:
- Start with clean skin. Freshly washed, no oils, and preferably without any hair.
- Cover the nipples. Never apply tape directly onto the nipples. You can take a bit of toilet paper, place it over your nipples, and cover it with a small strip of tape.
- Choose the amount of tape you think will work for your body. Cut it with scissors and remove the paper protection underneath.
- Place the tape over your breast and pull it gently to the side. This creates the appearance of a flat, open chest since your arm hides some of the breast tissue.
- Use an additional piece of tape to smooth out the appearance. Some bulkiness or spillover may form when you use only one piece of tape.
Do Breast Bands Help Implants Drop
The band is made of silicone, which is a natural material that has been used in medicine for decades. The band is attached to the top of each breast and placed under the muscle. It goes around the entire perimeter of your new breasts, creating a tight seal around the implant. The band helps to hold the implants down while they settle into their final position.
The purpose of using a breast band is to reduce pressure on your new implants. This will help them drop faster and give you a better result overall. Some patients choose not to use one, but most surgeons recommend it because it can speed up recovery and make sure everything heals properly.
In some cases, doctors may recommend using a breast lift along with an augmentation procedure to create better results overall. In these cases, your doctor may recommend wearing both bands at once — one on top and one on bottom — or just one on top or bottom depending on what’s needed for your particular situation.
The theory behind using breast bands is that they create pressure on the implant, which will in turn pull the implant down into its proper position. This pressure allows the capsule around the implant to stretch and allows the implant to drop into its correct location faster.
The breast band will encourage the implants to drop and settle into a natural position. It is not unusual for a surgeon to decide on neither strapping nor a breast band as they feel a sports bra is enough to support and protect the patients’ new assets.
Strapping is the tight sticky tape which is wrapped around the breasts and chest to restrict swelling and help the breasts settle into place quicker than they would at a natural rate. Nipples will usually be exposed and can appear puffy and swollen during this time. Strapping is generally removed at 7- 10 days post op. Some patients find the strapping to be restricting and can cause irritation so in some cases may be removed early by a member of the clinical team.
Some plastic surgeons use a ‘band’ or ‘strap’ on the upper aspect of the breasts of patients following the surgery to reduce the fullness of the upper pole of the breasts, or to keep the breast implants from migrating upwards.
These bands and straps became popular among cosmetic surgeons when shaped breast implants were first introduced. This is because upper breast (upper pole) fullness is more common with shaped breast implants because most of these implants are taller than they are wide. This abnormal, excessive upper pole fullness was particularly noticeable immediately after the implants were first put it.
More Discomfort
Most patients find that these ‘bands’ or ‘straps’ cause a significantly higher amount of pain and are uncomfortable to wear without providing much, if any, benefits. Dr. McMahan finds these contraptions to be useful only in the rare instance when a breast implant is slow to settle into position. However, in order for a ‘band’ or a ‘strap’ to be used, the patient should have undergone the breast augmentation procedure at least a week earlier. Normally, after a week following the procedure, a ‘band’ or a ‘strap’ is more comfortable to wear.
For patients who are required to wear a ‘band’ or ‘strap,’ it is normal to have a feeling of tightness during the first couple of days. However, following this time, patients get used to wearing their garment. In fact, some patients find that they like their ‘band’ since it gives a feeling of stability and support.
In patients where there is more fullness in the upper pole on one side or the implant seems to be sitting higher on one side, putting differential pressure on the breasts can improve symmetry and potentially avoid a secondary procedure. In these cases, we find that using a six-inch elastic bandage wrapped around the chest over the breast that has the higher implant and below the other breast. Wearing this bandage firmly, but uncomfortably so, can help to move the higher implant down and prevent the lower implant from dropping any further, improving symmetry.
Symmastia
In very rare cases, where one or both implants have moved too far to the middle so that there is inadequate separation of the breasts, known as symmastia, a specialized bra may be recommended by your surgeon to help separate the implants into a more natural position.