During breast augmentation surgery, the surgeon will make an incision in the upper part of your breast and remove fat from the area. The surgeon will then inject this fat into your breasts to increase their size. In some cases, implants may be used instead of fat injections. The incision is closed with stitches or surgical glue, and you can expect to have some bruising around the area where you had surgery for several weeks afterward.
Breast augmentation surgery is a procedure that is designed to increase the size of a woman’s breasts or correct deformities. There are many different breast augmentation options available today, and your surgeon will help you choose the best one for your needs and preferences.
Read on to learn more about Best Shirts For Breast Augmentation, What are the Pros and Cons of Using Silicone Strips?
Best Shirts For Breast Augmentation
After undergoing any type of surgery to your body, it’s important that you find the correct clothes that will allow you to heal as well as keep you comfortable. You want to give your body the ability to relax, but also want to support areas that may need support in order to reduce any pain you may feel while recovering.
As with any plastic surgery, breast augmentation is an invasive surgery that requires making incisions in the body, both on the surface level and under the skin, which can lead to discomfort during the recovery process.
Thankfully, Dr. Adams has perfected his Fast-Track 24-Hour Recovery Breast Augmentation method that allows a patient to return to normal everyday life (outside of exercise and strenuous activity) within 24 hours.
The procedure uses unique surgical techniques to minimize the trauma associated with breast augmentation surgery. By understanding where on the body to make incisions to keep internal tissue damage to a minimum, Dr. Adams is able to cut the traditional recovery time down to just 24 hours instead of weeks.
This allows for the patient to get back to work and going out with family and friends sooner, rather than having to stay home in bed while recovering.
But regardless of whether you choose Dr. Adams for your breast augmentation surgery, you’ll want to be comfortable when going through recovery, which is why it’s important to wear the right clothes after your surgery.
WHAT TYPE OF CLOTHES TO WEAR AFTER BREAST AUGMENTATION?
Bras
One of the most important pieces of clothing after undergoing breast augmentation surgery is going to be a comfortable bra.
Depending on your doctor you may be told to go bra-less for a few days post-surgery or to wear specific post-surgical bras to help reduce swelling and to prevent the implants from shifting while they are healing.
Definitely take the advice that your doctor gives to you, they know what they are talking about. And in most cases doctors will recommend not wearing a traditional underwire bra until about six weeks after surgery.
We put together a list of great bras to use when recovering from breast augmentation if you’re looking for more guidance.
Shirts
As we mentioned above, the proper bra is going to be the most important part of your outfit in the days after your breast augmentation surgery, but that doesn’t mean that you should just wear normal clothes over that.
In most cases you’re going to want to wear clothes that are easy to take on and off. Loose fitting t-shirts or blouses and zip-up hoodies tend to work best.
Due to the nature of how breast implants are inserted into the body, there will be some incisions made in the body tissue/muscle underneath the skin. This can lead to sore/achiness in your chest. The proper support from a bra can help, but you’ll want to do everything you can to reduce your arm movement.
Moving your arms away from your body can cause strain on the pectoralis muscle, which will be very sore from the surgery. By wearing loose fitting tops, or zip-up clothing, you’ll be able to easily put on and remove your shirts and minimize any pain you may experience.
Pants
The idea with pants after breast augmentation surgery is ease of removal and comfort. Your breast augmentation surgery will have no impact on your lower body, but the movement associated with removing your pants can exacerbate the soreness in your upper body.
Ensuring that your pants are easy to remove is key in minimizing the pain you may experience in your chest when making those movements.
Plus, if you’re going to be laying around for a few days, who wouldn’t want to be as comfortable as possible.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WEAR THESE CLOTHES AFTER SURGERY?
With a traditional breast implants you’ll want to wear these comfortable clothes for at least the first week. After the first week you can transition to more normal outer clothes if you’re feeling up to it, but you’ll want to continue to wear a softer sports bra, as you continue to heal.
If you’re still experiencing pain while wearing normal clothes, then continue to dress comfortably until the pain subsides.
After three weeks you should be able to wear normal clothes and transition to a normal, soft, bra. Remember, still no underwire or push-up bras until after the six week mark.
After the six week mark you should be able to wear whatever you want without significant pain. If you’re still experiencing significant pain at this point, we would recommend reaching out to your doctor.
What are the Pros and Cons of Using Silicone Strips?
When it comes to silicone strips to reduce scarring there are some pros and cons.
Pros:
- Silicone Strips can help heal scars faster than gels. That’s because your scar tissue is continuously in contact with the silicone – Where gels are easily wiped away.
- It is a non-invasive and painless.
- It helps to minimise redness, pain, bumps or itching of scar tissue while your skin heals.
- Blends well with your skin so it is not overly obvious when that you’re using silicone strips (it can depend on clothing and wear the strips are located).
- Silicone Strips are available in different sizes.
Cons:
- Strips need to be worn 24 hours a day and can be visible.
- Silicone strips are costlier than gels.
- Allergic reactions and sensitivity to the product are possible.
Silicone Strips FAQs
What Scars do Silicone Strip Work Best On?
Silicone strips are most suitable for elevated scars. They may work best to prevent or treat hypertrophic and keloid scars.
- Hypertrophic scars are raised and remain within the boundaries of the injury or wounded area.
- Keloid scars go beyond the incision and into the surrounding skin area.
- Both types of scars may be itchy or painful. In severe cases, these scars can affect one’s mobility.
Can Silicone Strips be used on old scars?
Most definitely. Silicone works on both old and new scars.
When Should I Begin using Silicone Strips?
For newly healed wounds, be sure to wait until there is no further bleeding, oozing or crusting on the area you are treating. Ask your Surgeon for specifics as this is general information only, but for post-surgical scars, you might be able to begin using it 1 to 2 weeks after your sutures are removed – but don’t use it until and unless your Surgeon gives you clearance to do so.
Can I use Silicone Strips on any Part of My Body?
Yes, mostly. Silicone strips can be ideal for use on most body parts as long as the tissue has healed adequately.
How long should I use it?
- Treatment duration will vary from person to person
- Duration depends on the extent and severity of the scar and your skin’s healing and scar formation processes.
- Sometimes the recommended duration of silicone strips usage is 8 to 12 weeks for new scars or 3 to 6 months for existing scars. That’s a fairly long protocol to follow but if you do, you may be rewarded by less visible scars (that noted, for many people but not all, scars fade a lot naturally within 12 to 18/24 months after surgery).
- The results of these treatments may vary.
Is Silicone Strip Scar Treatment Safe?
Yes, it appears this is a safe treatment and the FDA even recommends silicone strips for the treatment and reduction of scars. There have been no reported side effects from using silicone strips because it is made of non-toxic, medical-grade silicone. Every person is different, however, and you could have an allergy to it (rare but possible).
How will I use Silicone Strips Properly?
Dr Briggs or his Nurse will help teach you how to use your silicone strips, although here are some helpful tips:
- Massage gently only around the scar.
- Do not shower with strips, remove them beforehand.
- Swap out weekly (each strip may last for approximately one week – so it is recommended to change it weekly on average).
- Report any changes in your skin sensation, itchiness, redness, irritation, and other abnormalities in your scar tissue to your Surgeon immediately for further medical evaluation.
Having healthy skin and a good immune system can help a lot when it comes to healing well from a scar.
You’ll need to do your part, but Dr Briggs or his Nurse and can help you learn how to best prepare your skin for surgery and other treatments; they can also help your skin recover from incisions. Be sure you attend any recommended Healite II appointments – it feels great and helps rejuvenate and heal your skin.
Stimulating the skin’s natural healing mechanisms in the weeks or months before as well as after your surgery can help reduce the appearance of your scars.
The Process of Wound Healing
Scar Healing Symptoms
As your skin heals from a surgical incision or other skin wound, scars form; and along the way of skin repair (scar formation) you may experience:
- itching
- tenderness
- warmth in the incision area (but let your Surgeon or Nurse know if the area becomes very warm or hot as this could signal an infection)
- discomfort or pain
- anxiety about the scar (especially if you’ve just had major surgery when your emotional reactions will be more sensitive than they might otherwise be)
- sleep disturbance
Your wound could be infected if you experience any of the following.
- Fever.
- Delay in your healing.
- Pus, redness, and pain getting worse.
- Tenderness, warmth, and swelling near your wound.
Topical Scar Treatments
If your incision is thin and if you are careful not to interfere with it or over-stretch it during your healing period, your scars will tend to heal well over approximately 12 to 24 months. They will often become barely noticeable, but a lot of their visibility after surgery depends upon:
(a) where you have the surgery incision (e.g. breast incisions are often hidden in the inframammary fold);
(b) your genetics including skin tone,
(c) your overall health
(d) whether or not you get a skin infection or other complication after surgery, and
(e) how well you follow your post-op instructions including, but not limited to having good nutrition, using the Rapid Recovery protocols, wearing the right garments as prescribed, avoiding strenuous activities as advised, caring for your bandages (and other sterilisation efforts and wound treatments), and your rest and recovery requirements.
Best Seattle Breast Augmentation Surgeons
This story is featured in the May/June issue of Seattle magazine.
George G. Min. M.D.: facial rejuvenation, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, breast reconstruction and augmentation, liposuction; Newvue Plastic Surgery, 10047 Main St., Suite 103, Bellevue, 425-463-9883; EvergreenHealth Medical Center, Overlake Medical Center
Nicholas B. Vedder, M.D.: hand surgery, reconstructive plastic surgery, reconstructive, microvascular surgery; Burn and Plastic Surgery Clinics at Harborview, 325 Ninth Ave., Seattle, 206-744-5735
Richard A. Hopper, M.D.: facial trauma/fractures, craniofacial surgery/reconstruction, cleft palate/lip, facial deformities/reconstruction; Seattle Children’s Hospital,OB.9.520 – Craniofacial, 4800 Sand Point Way N.E., Seattle, 206-987-2759; Harborview Medical Center
Otway Louie, M.D.: head and neck reconstruction, reconstructive microvascular surgery, cancer reconstruction, breast cosmetic and reconstructive surgery; Center for Reconstructive Surgery at UW Medical Center – Montlake, 1959 N.E. Pacific St., Surgical Pavilion, Seattle, 206-598-1217; Harborview Medical Center
Daniel Lee Downey, M.D.: facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, facial rejuvenation, Botox; Proliance Surgical Specialists of Edmonds, 7315 212th St. S.W., Suite 201, Edmonds, 425-778-8116; UW Medical Center Northwest; Swedish Medical Center-Edmonds Campus
James D. Schlenker Jr., M.D.: abdominal wall reconstruction, reconstructive plastic surgery, hand surgery, microvascular surgery; Virginia Mason Seattle Medical Center, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, 1100 Ninth Ave., Seattle, 206-223-6831
Top Doctors 2021