Is bra-wearing 24/7 necessary after BMX with direct to implants?

MaryAgatha

I had a BMX with direct to implants last Wednesday. They put me in a bra while I was still unconscious and told me never take it off until the postoperative appt in 2 weeks, except to shower. To say I was uncomfortable is an understatement. It was almost painful. I finally took it off and finally feel like I can breathe again. How important is it to wear a bra for a couple of weeks after BMX with reconstruction? What's the purpose?

exbrnxgrl

Hi maryagatha,
It seems that plastic surgeons have differing views on what one wears post surgery. I had one step implants after my bmx and had a tight chest binder kind of garment. It was initially so tight, that I felt like I couldn't breathe while in the recovery room. They had to call my ps in to loosen it. After that, it was tight but tolerable. I don't remember how long I had to wear it, but I wanted to make sure that my implants settled into the pockets and maintained their position as they healed. If the post surgical bra you were given is that uncomfortable, please speak to you ps about it. I'm not completely knowledgeable about this, but I think you need some level of pressure and support to keep the implants in place while healing.

dtad

Hi again. My PS wants me to wear a supportive sports bra. She told me it was for the compression to help your body absorb all the fluids.

muska

Maybe you can call your PS office and speak to the staff? They might adjust the bra a little if it's too tight or fit you in a different size but I would not take it off if they told you to wear it continuously.

I wore mine for as long as they requested.

ml143333

I had a BMX and went directly to implants.  I was bound with what looked like a really wide ace bandage for the first three days.  After that, my PS didn't want me to wear anything for about 4 weeks.  Then I graduated to a sports type bra.  He says that I don't even need to wear one at all if I don't want to and I had my implants done last August.

MaryAgatha

Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. As some of you said I think PS's have differing opinions on the importance of bras after mastectomy. My PS told me I had to wear SOMETHING, either the surgical bra from the hospital or sports bra, to keep implants in place and to absorb fluids. I've managed to keep the surgical bra on until my post op appt and then I have been wearing my old nursing bras, which I used when I used to breastfeed! It's been 3 years since I stopped breastfeeding and I can't believe I still have them! But these nursing bras are actually perfect because they're so comfortable and open in the front.