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How to Find the Perfect Bra After Breast Augmentation8 min read

How to Find the Perfect Bra After Breast Augmentation
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Breast augmentation, an ever-evolving field of plastic surgery, changes the size and shape of your breasts while profoundly boosting your confidence and self-image. 

Once the surgery is complete, many women immediately look for the perfect bra to fit their new size and shape. This process, while exciting, can be daunting due to the wide variety of choices. 

Therefore, staying informed and prioritizing aesthetics and comfort after breast augmentation is essential!

Understanding the Changes After Breast Augmentation

After breast augmentation, you must adjust to a higher, firmer, and larger bust line. Recognizing these changes is the first step toward finding the perfect bra. You’ll have to take cup size, band size, spacing between the breasts, and projection into consideration.

When you undergo breast augmentation, your body experiences noticeable changes, particularly in the chest area:

  • Altered Spacing: Some women find their breasts sit closer together, while others observe a wider spacing.
  • Enhanced Size: One of the most noticeable changes is the increase in breast size. This enlargement directly affects your cup size, prompting a trip to the lingerie store.
  • Elevated Bust Line: Many women find their bust line higher after breast augmentation. This elevation often delivers a more youthful appearance, emphasizing the upper portion of the chest.
  • Increased Firmness: The added firmness provides a fuller, more contoured breast shape, enhancing your overall silhouette.
  • Varied Projection: Projection refers to how far the breasts extend outwards from the chest wall. After augmentation, you might find a change in how your breasts project, depending on the implant type and placement.

5 Benefits of the Right Bra Fit

After getting breast augmentation, you must support the new contours of your breasts properly. A well-fitted bra provides comfort and ensures the implants settle correctly, maintaining the overall shape. 

In contrast, an ill-fitted bra: 

  • Causes discomfort
  • Interrupts the healing process
  • Spearheads post-operative complications in some cases

The right bra fit plays a pivotal role in the post-surgery phase for several reasons:

  • Comfort and Confidence: A well-fitted bra not only sits comfortably against your skin but also instills confidence, enhancing your posture and overall appearance.
  • Maintaining Shape: A bra that fits perfectly will preserve and enhance the new shape of your breasts. It provides the proper support, preventing sagging and ensuring that your breasts always look their best.
  • Preventing Complications: An ill-fitted bra, especially one that’s too tight, exerts undue pressure on the surgical incisions or around the implants. This pressure disrupts the healing process, leading to complications such as implant displacement or strain on the surgical site.
  • Proper Implant Settling: The implants require time to settle into their permanent position after surgery. A well-fitted bra aids this settling process, ensuring the implants move and adjust correctly.
  • Reducing the Risk of Skin Issues: Bras that don’t fit properly can cause skin issues, like chafing or irritations, especially on sensitive post-operative skin. The right fit ensures minimal friction and reduces the risk of these problems.

4 Bra Types Suitable for Post-Augmentation

Selecting the correct type of bra post-augmentation is critical for recovery and comfort. 

Here’s a more detailed examination of the suitable bra types and the reasons behind their recommendations:

Front-Opening Bras

  • Ease of Use: Post-surgery, you might find raising your arms or making specific movements challenging or painful. Front-opening bras eliminate the need for such actions, making them easy to put on and take off.
  • Reduced Strain: With closures at the front, these bras ensure that no unnecessary pressure or strain is exerted on the back or sides, which might be sensitive after surgery.

Seamless Bras

  • Minimized Irritation: Post-augmentation, the skin around the breasts is particularly sensitive. Seams can chafe or irritate this skin. Seamless bras ensure smooth, gentle contact, significantly reducing any potential for irritation.
  • Sleek Appearance: As a bonus, seamless bras offer a smooth silhouette, making them an excellent choice for wearing under form-fitting clothing without any visible bra lines.

Sports Bras

  • Breathable Fabrics: Many sports bras use materials that allow for air circulation. The added breathability reduces the risk of sweat accumulation, minimizing potential skin irritations on the sensitive post-operative skin.
  • Limiting Movement: The snug fit of sports bras restricts excessive movement. Reducing activity helps in preventing potential disruptions to the surgical site and discomfort.
  • Support and Stability: Sports bras inherently provide excellent support. Post-augmentation, your breasts require this extra support to heal and ensure the implants remain in the desired position.

Wireless Bras

  • Avoiding Pressure: The main advantage of wireless bras is the absence of rigid underwires, which press against the surgical site or the implants. Such pressure not only causes discomfort but also impacts the healing process.
  • Natural Settling: Without underwires, the breasts settle more naturally during the healing phase, reducing the risk of implant displacement.

Understanding these bra types’ unique benefits and functionalities allows you to make informed decisions that promote healing, offer comfort, and align with your post-surgical needs.

4 Factors to Consider When Shopping for New Bras

Adjustable Straps

  • Changing Breast Size: Swelling gradually subsides, and implants begin to settle in the weeks following augmentation, changing the size and shape of your breasts.
  • Customized Support: Adjustable straps enable you to achieve the right level of lift and support, catering to your comfort needs as you heal.

Bra Material

  • Skin Sensitivity: After surgery, the skin around the breasts becomes more sensitive. Soft materials like cotton feel gentle against the skin, minimizing the potential for irritation, chafing, and allergic reactions.
  • Temperature Regulation: Breathable materials help regulate temperature, ensuring the area remains cool and reduces sweating.

No Underwires

  • Flexibility in Movement: Wireless bras allow for more flexibility, letting the breasts move and settle without constriction.
  • Pressure Points: Underwires, while great for shaping and lifting, create uncomfortable and even painful pressure points on the breasts.

Consider Scheduling a Fitting Session

  • Professional Insight: While you might have a general idea about your bra size, a professional bra fitter can point out any overlooked insights. They can measure and consider factors such as breast width, projection, and spacing, ensuring you get the best fit.
  • Evolving Needs: Your bra requirements will change as your body adapts to the implants and completes its healing process. Regular fitting sessions ensure you’re always wearing the right size, maximizing comfort and support.

Bra Maintenance After Breast Augmentation

Investing in the right bras becomes even more crucial post-breast augmentation. However, more than merely purchasing one is required. Proper maintenance is vital to ensuring their support and extending their lifespan. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to care for your bras post-surgery:

  • Choose the Right Bra: Start by selecting bras that offer good support and are comfortable. Your breasts will be more sensitive post-augmentation, so prioritize soft materials and avoid bras with rough seams or irritating fabrics.
  • Hand Wash for Longevity: Always hand-wash your bras. This gentle approach ensures that the fabric’s elasticity remains intact and delicate parts or padded sections aren’t damaged. Machine washing, especially on aggressive cycles, distorts the shape and wears out your bras faster.
  • Use Mild Detergents: Harsh chemicals break down the fibers of your bra, leading to a loss in support and a shortened lifespan. 
  • Avoid Wringing: Resist the urge to wring out your bras after washing to avoid damaging their structure and elasticity. Instead, gently squeeze the water out by pressing the bra between two clean towels.
  • Air Dry for Best Results: Always let your bras air dry. Lay them flat on a towel in a well-ventilated area, reshaping the cups and straps to their original form. Hanging your bras stretches the straps and distorts the shape, especially when wet. Moreover, avoid direct sunlight, as it helps fade their color and weaken their material.
  • Rotate Your Bras: Avoid wearing the same bra multiple days in a row. By rotating your bras and giving each one a rest, you’ll allow the fibers to regain their shape, ensuring consistent support.
  • Store Properly: Once dry, store your bras flat in a drawer, preferably with each bra nestled behind the other. Folding them or tucking one cup into another will distort their shape over time.

Unlock the Best in Post-Augmentation Comfort and Style!

Finding the perfect bra after breast augmentation is an exhilarating journey. By understanding the changes, making informed choices, and transitioning into regular bras, you can enjoy the rewards of your new shape. The right bra will accentuate your unique figure while providing unmatched comfort!

Meet us at 19500 Sandridge Way, Suite 350, Leesburg, VA 20176, or call us at (703) 574-4342 for a complimentary consultation with Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon Dr. Phillip Chang before moving forward with your procedure. If everything matches up, our team will help you navigate the entire process from beginning to end. Also, remember to check out our blog and social media for more information on cosmetic surgery trends!

References

  1. “Breast Lift: Post Operation Breast Surgery: Breast Implants.” Mark D. Epstein, M.D./ Mark D. Epstein, M.D., P.C., 10 Feb. 2022, www.epsteinplasticsurgery.com/procedures/breast-procedures/breast-augmentation/breast-implants-102-intermediate-level-topics/how-far-apart-will-my-breasts-be/. Accessed 13 Oct. 2023.

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