Post-Surgical Bra: clear up all your doubts!

Post-Surgical Bra: what is it for, how to choose, where to buy?

Post-operative care during the recovery period from plastic surgery is essential for achieving good aesthetic results after the procedure. And this applies to all surgeries, without exception.

In the case of breast surgery, whether it's breast augmentation, reduction mammoplasty, mastopexy, breast augmentation with fat, or breast reconstruction, there are several post-operative procedures that are mandatory.

This care will ensure the patient's well-being and a smooth healing process.

In addition to resting, taking painkillers, changing dressings, and drainage sessions, wearing a specific bra for a certain period is a key point for a good recovery and successful surgery.

What is a post-surgical bra and what is it for?

A post-surgical bra, also known as a post-operative bra (or post op bra), is a specific bra that must be worn by patients who have had breast surgery.

This is an essential ally for its many advantages.

Benefits of a post surgery bra:

The post-surgical bra ensures that the operated area has stability, to guarantee good healing and reduce the risk of fibrosis and keloids appearing. This is because surgery leads to the detachment of internal tissues which the bra helps to compress, facilitating the healing process and reducing the likelihood of bleeding.

Compression also helps to control and reduce swelling.

By immobilizing the breast area, the post-operative bra helps to control pain, once again by stagnating the movement and displacement of tissues. It also prevents sagging.

By preventing the breast tissues from moving when the patient shifts or moves, the post-operative bra prevents tension on the stitches, which could otherwise open.

In the case of breast augmentation or mastopexy with implants, these bras also serve to prevent the prosthesis from moving

How to choose?

The post surgery bra best suited to your situation, according to the procedure and your physiognomy, will be recommended to you by your plastic surgeon before your mammoplasty, mastopexy, breast augmentation with fat, or breast reconstruction.

Choosing a post-surgical bra is an important step in ensuring that the patient is as comfortable as possible during the recovery phase.

Types of Bras

There are different types of post surgery bras, which have different characteristics depending on the surgery performed and the recovery goal.

All of them are more supportive than ordinary models to ensure support and stabilization, and it is important that they are resistant and comfortable.

It should also be noted that you should opt for hypoallergenic and higher-quality fabrics that are not prone to causing allergies or irritation.

Front opening - This is a feature that all (or almost all) post-surgical bras have. The purpose of the front opening, usually with clasps and/or zip fasteners, is to make it easier to wear and to observe or bandage the area that has been operated on. The front opening is important because, after surgery, the patient cannot make certain movements, such as raising her arms.

High compression – The high compression of post-surgical bras helps to control and relieve swelling. They are intended for patients who have had breast augmentation or reduction and mastopexy..

Seamless – The fact that it has no seams prevents it from catching on the scar and provides greater comfort.

With a retaining band – post-surgical bras with a retaining band are particularly suitable for recovery from breast augmentation or mastopexy with breast prosthesis/implant placement. The main purpose of the support band is to prevent the prosthesis from moving. However, it is also indicated in the case of simple mastopexy or reduction mammoplasty to support and maintain correct breast positioning.

Modelling - the modelling bra is essential for patients who have had mastopexy or reduction surgery, as it helps to maintain the way the breast has been positioned, ensuring a more symmetrical result.

No rim or foam - the absence of a rim or foam prevents the operated area from becoming deformed or marked. – A ausência de aro ou espuma evita que a área operada fique deformada ou marcada.

Mouldable straps - mouldable straps allow the bra to be positioned at the correct height and in the most comfortable way.

It should also be said that, regardless of their function as a treatment and as an adjunct to recovery from surgery, post-operative bras also have different aesthetic characteristics, and you can choose one according to your personal tastes.

Thus, although they generally resemble sports bras, they can have lace or be plain, be longer or shorter, have thinner or wider straps, and come in different colours.

How do I choose the right size?

Ask your doctor about the best bra size to wear after breast augmentation, reduction, or mastopexy.

The bra must not be too tight, but just tight enough to support the breast, otherwise, it can jeopardize blood circulation, hinder healing, and delay the relief of swelling.

How long should it be worn?

How long the patient should wear the bra depends on each case.

The post-surgical bra should be worn all day and night, i.e. even to sleep. It should only be removed when the patient takes a shower.

It is therefore important to buy more than one bra so that they can be worn alternately while one of them is being washed.

The minimum total wearing time for a bra is 30 days. In some cases, this period can be extended to 90 days.

Important: You should only stop wearing your post-operative bra when your surgeon tells you to.

When you stop wearing the post-surgical bra, however, you should continue to wear bras without underwires and with good support for some time.

Where to buy?

It's increasingly easy to find outlets that sell post-operative bras, as more and more brands are making them.

Both specialized lingerie, orthopaedic, pharmaceutical, medical, and hospital shops, as well as some more general shops, offer this type of product.

If you want to buy the bra online, simply search on Google for terms such as "buy post-surgical bra", "buy post-surgical bra", or even, for example, "mastopexy bra" or "mammoplasty bra" to find numerous websites and brands that sell them.

Important note:

In case this article presents before and after photos please consider them merely demonstrative and may not serve as a reference for your particular case. These images are only to show possible results for one or several surgical procedures. The images we use are of patients who have consented to their use. Any images do not represent a guarantee of results.

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Post-Surgical Bra: clear up all your doubts!

Sobre a Médica Especialista
Dr. Luísa Magalhães Ramos / Plastic Surgery

PORTUGUESE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, Nr. 42810

Graduated by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, she specialized in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, at Hospital de São José, in Lisbon.

Throughout her training, she subspecialized in aesthetic plastic surgery, having worked in world-renowned clinics.

Currently, she is mainly dedicated to face and breast aesthetic plastic surgery and to intimate female surgery.