Compression garments after mammoplasty - how to wear them correctly

The therapeutic effect of squeezing certain parts of the body has been known for a long time. This method of treatment, prevention and recovery from certain diseases is still actively used today. Elastic bandages, which began to be used since the end of the century before last, have now been replaced by compression garments. After mammoplasty, it is recommended to be worn by all patients.

This article will tell you how to choose and use it correctly for those who have recently undergone breast surgery.

Consequences of mammoplasty

In order to improve the aesthetic appearance of the breast, the following operations are performed:

installation of implants and fillers;
reducing bust size;
mastopexy (breast lift);
elimination of asymmetry (one breast is larger than the other or has a different shape).

After plastic surgery the following are possible:

swelling that can stretch the skin and deform soft tissues;
displacement of implants from the required position;
fresh scars that can stretch significantly in the absence of bust support.

These problems can be solved by wearing compression garments after mammoplasty. It was developed based on medical recommendations and has long proven its effectiveness.

Contraindications

A female breast lift has its contraindications. These include:

age under 18 years;
diseases of internal organs in the stage of decompensation;
malignant neoplasms;
ARVI, acute respiratory infections;
blood diseases;
serious hormonal disorders;
severe immunodeficiency.

If a woman consumes alcohol, nicotine, medications that affect blood clotting, has a poor diet, or experiences severe stress, surgery should be postponed. It is also necessary to refrain from plastic surgery during periods of exacerbation of chronic diseases, acute infections and during critical days.

What effect does compression garments have?

If you wear post-operative compression garments, you can prevent suture dehiscence and reduce pain. This is due to the fact that such a bra, among other things, also has protective properties.
postoperative compression garments lift the gland tissue and limit its movement, preventing the increase in scars resulting from plastic surgery.
Such special bras promote the formation of an attractive new shape.
wearing therapeutic underwear prevents uncontrolled migration of implants and prevents them from descending.
A compression bra massages the breast tissue. This helps relieve swelling after surgery and facilitates the removal of fluid from the area that has undergone surgical changes. Blood circulation and lymphatic drainage improve, accelerating wound healing.
compression garments after mammoplasty, aimed at significant enlargement of the mammary glands, evenly distribute the load on the neck and spine.

Postoperative underwear

Why is post-operative underwear needed?

Postoperative (compression) underwear is intended to facilitate the postoperative period and is a mandatory recommendation from specialists. Compression garments are put on the patient immediately after mammoplasty. It is this that prevents the sutures from coming apart and also prevents the formation of edema, providing support to the operated tissues. In addition, compression underwear has a massage effect, which helps speed up metabolism, and, consequently, speedy recovery and healing of damaged organs. Until recently, elastic bandages were used for these purposes.

Where to buy post-operative underwear?

You can buy postoperative underwear in the online store marenamed.ru

Choosing postoperative underwear after breast augmentation:

It is best to choose underwear after receiving detailed advice from your doctor.

Only a specialist can choose the optimal size and desired shape, focusing on the anatomical features of the patient. The doctor also calculates the possible volume of edema, which plays an important role when choosing a particular model. Another factor influencing the decision is the desired breast size, as well as the surgical technique.

When choosing post-operative underwear, be sure to follow a few simple rules.

The bra should be comfortable and comfortable. Pay attention to the materials used in the manufacturing process - they must be hypoallergenic.

Postoperative underwear must “breathe.” It is important to find the optimal balance - the breasts should be tightly fixed, but the feeling of tightness, which means poor circulation, should not be allowed.

It is best if the compression garment completely follows the contours of the body and does not stand out under clothing.

The Clovermed company has been cooperating for a long time with the Marena company, which produces compression garments that meet all the above requirements of plastic surgeons.

Important facts:

Postoperative underwear should never be too small. This contributes to the development of edema and poor circulation.
Most often, the period of wearing compression garments varies from 2 to 4 weeks, which depends on the general condition of the patient and is determined by the attending physician.
Usually, a month after mammoplasty, specialists allow you to remove compression garments, however, they recommend wearing them during any physical activity and sports.
Remember that it is important to correctly follow all the doctor’s recommendations, because only this guarantees the successful completion of the rehabilitation process.

How to choose compression garments after mammoplasty

Compression underwear intended for women who have had surgical breast correction should:

provide comfort, since you will have to wear it for more than a day or two;
have hypoallergenic properties and allow the skin to breathe;
be invisible under clothes;
Easy to fasten without assistance (the clasp should be on the front, not on the back).

To have all these properties, the bra must be made of textiles that contain elastane, cotton and a very small amount of artificial fibers. Cotton will ensure the ability of the linen to breathe and not irritate the skin. A compression bra should follow the contours of a woman’s body and not restrict breathing and movement. Otherwise, you will not only experience discomfort, but also the blood and lymph circulation of the chest will be disrupted.

The choice of a model of a medical postoperative bra is carried out according to the doctor’s recommendations, taking into account the goals of the surgical intervention.

Mastopexy: 10 most important questions about breast lift.

What is the difference between mastopexy and mammoplasty?

Mastopexy is an operation whose main objectives are to tighten the mammary glands and eliminate ptosis.

Mammoplasty is an operation that is aimed at creating an aesthetically attractive breast shape.

Thus, mammoplasty is a broader concept that includes the term “mastopexy”.

How can I determine if I need a breast lift?

Mastopexy is performed for women who have ptosis of the mammary glands. This defect is a serious cause of concern for many women, since the breasts in this case do not look attractive.

Is mastopexy surgery dangerous?

In plastic surgery, there is more than one type of mastopexy. And if skin mastopexy does not take much time and is considered a superficial operation, then another type of breast lift may require more difficult and detailed intervention and have quite a few risks. To avoid unpleasant consequences, both the patient and the plastic surgeon must consider mastopexy carefully.

How long do mastopexy results last?

Breast lift surgery is aimed at achieving long-lasting results for up to 10 years. However, there are several factors that may hinder this. Such as breast volume or a sudden change in weight. Therefore, it is best to approach the operation at a comfortable weight that the patient can maintain after mastopexy.

How is mastopexy performed?

Before the operation begins, the surgeon draws the incision lines. The operation itself is performed under general anesthesia. Only minor skin changes can be performed under local anesthesia. The duration of the operation to perform skin mastopexy does not exceed, as a rule, one hour. If the lift is carried out in conjunction with endoprosthetics, the duration of the operation reaches three or more hours.

Is it possible to simultaneously enlarge the breasts during mastopexy?

To make the breasts look more aesthetically pleasing, breast augmentation with implants is often recommended in conjunction with mastopexy. This is necessary in order to fill the upper layer of the mammary glands or increase their overall volume.

Can a breast lift interfere with breastfeeding?

If you are planning a pregnancy, it would not be advisable to undergo a breast lift. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, the shape of the breast may change, which cannot be predicted in advance. Therefore, experts recommend performing mastopexy upon completion of breastfeeding.

How long does the rehabilitation period last after mastopexy?

After mastopexy, there is practically no discomfort, so after removing the sutures (on the 10th day), you can quickly restore your usual lifestyle and play sports, evenly distributing the load. It is recommended to wear compression garments for a month after surgery.

Are there any scars after mastopexy?

After breast lift surgery, scars remain, but over time they become almost invisible.

How to prepare yourself for mastopexy?

Before undergoing breast lift surgery, it is important to undergo the standard minimum examinations and consult with a mammologist, phlebologist and general practitioner. The most optimal time for mastopexy is the middle of the menstrual cycle.

How to wear compression garments correctly

A therapeutic and prophylactic compression and support bra should be worn in accordance with the recommendations of doctors.

From the first day you will have to wear it constantly for a month, without taking it off even while sleeping. If a medical examination shows that everything is healing normally and the swelling is going away, then you can remove the compression garments at night, no earlier than after 4-5 weeks. Please note that manufacturers categorically do not recommend washing a compression bra in an automatic machine, as in this case it will lose all its healing properties.

Breast care after mastopexy

During the rehabilitation period, the breasts require special attention. Proper care is the key to a positive result from plastic surgery.

1. Caring for seams

During your stay in the clinic, the stitches are monitored by a doctor. He processes them. Afterwards it becomes the patient's task.

You need to treat the seams with an antiseptic and bandage yourself.

If the doctor chose regular threads for the operation, the sutures are removed on the seventh day. If the thread is self-absorbing, then there is no need to remove it.

You cannot remove stitches yourself! It can cause infection or damage the scars.

After the stitches are removed, the need for care remains. Things to remember:

Do not rub the seams with a towel.
It is necessary to protect the seams from mechanical stress.
You should not sleep on your chest or side.
It is worth giving up sexual activity for at least 10-14 days.
You cannot visit baths, saunas, swimming pools, or solariums.

A month and a half after mastopexy, scars can begin to be treated with moisturizing creams and lotions. Please note: they must not contain vitamin E.

The cream should be applied every day for six months.

2. Skin care

The skin after mastopexy almost always becomes dry and irritated. There is no need to worry about this. As with stitches, moisturizing creams will help here.

If irritation and redness occur, natural-based ointments and compresses will help.

When can you stop wearing compression garments?

Many girls are interested in the question of how long to wear compression garments after mammoplasty. If everything goes according to plan, then in six months you will be able to use a regular bra. However, as practice shows, it is impossible to answer the question unambiguously, and everything depends on the individual characteristics of your body, the characteristics of the operation, the speed of final maturation of the scars and other factors.

You should not switch to fashionable bra models immediately after treatment. Particularly contraindicated are options without straps, which are unable to support the breasts in the proper position, or push-up.

Now you know how to wear compression garments after mammoplasty and when you can stop using such a bra without the risk of spoiling the results of the plastic surgeon. Try to strictly follow the recommendations presented above and the advice of your doctor. This will help you achieve the result you dreamed of when you consulted a plastic surgeon.

Types of breast lift surgeries

Periareolar mastopexy . From the point of view of the pace and quality of recovery processes, the most favorable is the periareolar breast lift, which is performed through a circular approach along the edge of the areola. Trauma to the skin during the operation is minimal, which avoids the formation of rough scars. The stitches run along the border between pigmented and light skin, making the scar virtually invisible.

The recovery period after surgery lasts 3-4 weeks. At this time, it is especially important to follow all the recommendations given by the plastic surgeon. Swelling and hematomas disappear within 7-10 days. The stitches are removed after 10-14 days. You cannot play sports for 1-2 months.

A breast lift through a circular approach is possible for the first degree of mastoptosis. For grade 2 or 3 prolapse, this surgical technique is used extremely rarely (in fact, not used), since it does not allow obtaining a high result that is stable in the long term. Women who are planning surgery and want to simplify/shorten rehabilitation should contact a specialist when the first signs of mastoptosis appear.

Circumvertical mastopexy . Using this surgical technique, breast lift is performed through a circular and vertical incision. The access around the areola is complemented by a vertical one, which is directed from the areola to the inframammary fold. Obviously, with this type of operation, the skin and tissue of the mammary glands are injured to a greater extent.

It is no longer possible to avoid the formation of noticeable scars. Rehabilitation after a breast lift using a vertical approach takes longer. The inevitable symptoms of the recovery period (swelling, hematomas, pain) last longer and bother the patient to a greater extent.

Recovery after vertical mastopexy lasts 2-3 months. Postoperative symptoms may bother you for two to three weeks. The stitches are removed after 14 days. Active training and physical activity are contraindicated for 3 months.

Despite the wide possibilities of the technique, vertical breast lift is possible with the second degree of ptosis. With the third degree of ptosis, it is problematic to obtain a high result using this type of mastopexy; a more radical operation is required. This once again emphasizes the importance of timely contact with a specialist.

Anchor mastopexy. The most traumatic is anchor mastopexy. What is an anchor breast lift? This technique requires making another incision that runs transversely along the inframammary fold. As a result, the surgical approach is shaped like an anchor, which explains the name of the technique.

The choice in favor of an anchor breast lift is dictated by necessity. With severe ptosis of the bust, the previously discussed types of mastopexy do not allow achieving stable results. Even if a plastic surgeon can improve the aesthetics of the breast with a less radical operation, the effect will be temporary, which negates the value of the correction.

With anchor mastopexy you can get results that will last for many years. Breasts after an anchor lift will remain beautiful for ten years or more. This advantage of the technique compensates for its disadvantages, the main ones of which are long-term rehabilitation and significant scarring.

Rehabilitation after an anchor lift lasts from 3 to 5 months. Swelling, bruising, pain and other symptoms disappear after three weeks. The stitches are removed after 14 days. Active training and physical activity are contraindicated for 3-5 months.

Sutures after anchor mastopexy run vertically from the nipple to the lower edge of the gland and continue horizontally along the inframammary fold. Over time, the scars fade and become less noticeable, but it is not possible to completely hide the traces of surgical correction.

Why regular underwear is not suitable for the recovery period

During breast rehabilitation after surgery, it is fundamentally important to maintain normal blood circulation. Sufficient blood flow ensures rapid healing and tissue restoration.

Any hard elements of underwear or styles for external breast shape correction can cause not only additional discomfort, such as abrasions, but also slow down the healing process. Underwire bras compress blood vessels.

Push-up bras compress the breasts too much without taking into account the details of the operation. These types of underwear can cause implants to dislodge and slow blood circulation. Swelling occurs and recovery is slow.

In addition, this underwear fastens at the back. And after surgery, any movement can cause noticeable pain. In addition, the straps of regular bras are usually thin and cut into the body. The load on the shoulders and its uneven distribution will create additional discomfort.