March 25th, 2025
Dr. Mulholland, Md
Can I sleep on my side after breast augmentation surgery? When can I start working out again? Should I wear a bra all day?
These are a few of the questions we answer every single day when we meet with our breast augmentation clients. They are the most common questions because they are the most important questions. You want to know exactly what this process entails, and we want you to be completely comfortable with everything.
We know that you have plenty of options when looking for breast implants in Toronto and we take our responsibility to you very seriously. We take tremendous pride in the level of care we provide you before, during, and after any surgery. The recovery process and your post-op lifestyle are best discussed in a 1-on-1 setting, where we can answer any questions and you can ask follow-ups as we dive deeper.
However, if you want to do a little reading before we meet, this blog covers a few of the most common breast augmentation questions about the recovery process and gives you a general idea of what to expect.
How to Sleep After Breast Augmentation Surgery
Of course, sleeping after breast augmentation is a major area of interest for our clients. They want to make sure that they can get a good night’s rest every single night.
You are going to want to stay on your back (and eventually on your side) after breast augmentation surgery, for at least 6 weeks following your procedure.
Ideally, you will want to sleep on your back, with your upper body elevated or propped up a bit. This is important because it helps you:
- Prevent fluids from building up
- Encourage circulation
- Maintain a natural position for your breasts as they heal and settle into place
Once you have healed properly, you can resume sleeping on your side while wearing a supportive garment, such as a sports bra.
If you’re a big fan of being the big spoon or the little spoon while sleeping, this can be a bit of an adjustment for you. It might help if you begin the process in the weeks leading up to your surgery. Try training your body to sleep with a few pillows propped up under your back.
We are all creatures of habit. The way we like to sleep can seem almost sacred. But believe us when we say you can adapt very quickly. A number of our clients had been side sleepers for their entire lives, but they easily converted to back sleeping and actually preferred it in the long run.
You will want to do everything you can to avoid sleeping on your stomach following any breast augmentation procedure, particularly during those first crucial and delicate couple of weeks following your surgery. You want to give your implants a chance to settle into the desired place as you heal. Putting too much pressure on them by lying on your front can negatively impact your results.
Protecting your results by sleeping the right way is crucial after any type of breast augmentation procedure, whether it’s getting breast implants, a fat grafting procedure, or a breast lift.
Sleep, in general, is crucial to healing after any type of surgery. This helps your immune system stay strong, while also encouraging healthy blood and oxygen flow throughout the body.
So do your best to get your full 8 hours every night following your surgery.
When Can I Start Working Out Again?
Many of our clients are already living very active, fitness-focused lifestyles. They’re excited to hit the gym again, because that’s simply their way of life.
They’re also excited to have the dream body that they’ve always wanted and they’re eager to start maintaining it. Remember, breast augmentation recovery takes time and you need to take things slow—even if you can hear your running shoes calling your name.
However, it’s incredibly important that one does not rush back into any sort of exercise after a breast augmentation surgery. Your body needs the proper amount of time to rest and recover, while your implants need the proper time to fully settle into place. Rushing back too soon can put your health and your results in serious jeopardy.
Here is a very rough timetable of what to expect:
The First 5 Days:
These first couple of days are all about rest and recovery, so take it easy! However, you are encouraged to walk around your home a little bit to keep relatively active, and to keep the blood circulation moving.
After 7 or So Days:
You’re still very much easing your body back into things. Walking around the neighbourhood is very good. This is a nice, easy, low-impact way to stay active. But don’t start working out yet.
After 3 Weeks:
Now you can start working some low-impact cardio into your routine. However, you still need to be very careful and limit yourself to about 50%-60% of your usual pace and intensity. You still need to take things easy, even if you feel that you can do more.
After 6 Weeks:
At this point, you can start considering light upper body workouts, but only after consulting with your surgeon.
Please note that these are very general guidelines, and everyone’s body is different. One of the most important parts of this process is keeping an open line of communication with your surgeon.
As a leading and respected plastic surgery clinic in Toronto, we’re proud to offer some of Canada’s foremost breast augmentation experts. Our providers have built their reputation on industry-leading skills and are equally known for the level of care they provide to every patient.
They succeed by understanding their patients. So, if your lifestyle includes sports, that’s an important conversation to have with your surgeon.
Your interests may include:
- Skiing or snowboarding
- Tennis or other racket sports
- Wall or rock climbing
- Water sports
- Golf
- Yoga
- Dance
- Pilates
Make sure you have detailed, transparent discussions with your surgeon about any sports or recreational activities you may have and when you could return to them.
You might think that you’re a fast healer, and you may very well be one. However, never simply assume that you’re ready to return to working out. Always speak to your surgeon, regardless of how ready you feel.
Should I Wear a Bra After Surgery?
Our pre-op meetings will also feature a detailed conversation about wearing a bra after your breast augmentation procedure. This is a crucial conversation to have because you may have read different things online. That’s because different surgeons have different views on this topic.
We believe you need to protect your investment and results by wearing a supportive sports bra after your surgery. This helps hold your breasts as still as possible and allows your implants to settle into place.
Life is full of plenty of unexpected bumps and bounces, even when you’re being as careful as possible. That’s why we highly recommend that our patients wear a sports bra to help keep the breasts in the correct position, and advise them to wear one for 24 hours a day, for 4 weeks after the surgery.
This leads to the best results and the most comfortable experience for you.
Bra Shopping After Surgery
Once your 4 weeks are up, you might still have to resist the temptation to go on a bra-buying spree. We know you’re excited to pick out the best bras that will highlight your new body contour, but you will still want to hold off for a little bit.
It can take several weeks for your implants to fully settle into place, and your swelling will also need time to fully subside. We recommend buying a few bras after your 4-week window is up. However, your body is still likely to go through more changes, so you might not know what type (or size) of bra really suits you. Something that feels perfect in week 4 may not be the best fit by week 8.
What is the Recovery Process for Fat Transfer Breast Augmentation?
You may also be considering a fat transfer procedure. These are very popular because they help women add size and shape to their breasts using their body’s own existing fat cells, and some women are more comfortable with that.
The methods are similar to the famous Brazilian Butt Lift. Your surgeon will expertly use energy-assisted liposuction technology to gently remove fat cells from an area of your body (the most popular choices are the abdomen, hips, and thighs. For obvious reasons), then use that fat to add volume to your breasts. It’s a remarkably safe procedure that has yielded fantastic results, with patients achieving a ½- to ¾-cup-size improvement.
The recovery process is also relatively fast. Here is a very broad overview of what it could look like:
- Day 3: All of your initial discomfort should have gone away
- Week 1: You will likely see a significant reduction in bruising and swelling
- Week 2: You can most likely stop wearing your compression garments
- Week 6: After speaking to your surgeon, you can possibly return to strenuous activities
Once again, this is just a guide to give you an idea of what the process could look like. This isn’t a steadfast schedule, and you need to discuss your recovery process with your surgeon. As we stated earlier, you don’t want to rush back into things, even if you’re feeling healthy and strong.
Your surgeon always has your best interests in mind, and you should check with them before resuming workouts or going on a ski trip.
How Do I Know I’ve Chosen the Right Surgeon?
Results and reputation go a long way to showing you what any given surgeon is all about. You can always start by browsing your would-be surgeon’s breast augmentation before and after photos to get a good sense of their work. You can gauge how natural their results look and how closely they align with your personal goals.
At the same time, if you’re looking for the best breast augmentation surgeons Toronto has to offer, you need to consider their reputation in the community and within the plastic surgery industry as a whole.
We’re proud to offer some of Canada’s leading surgeons. Toronto Plastic Surgeons Wellness Centre has built a strong reputation based on industry-leading techniques and exceptional patient care, with our providers having successfully performed thousands of cosmetic breast procedures.
If you’re ready to see what the best version of yourself can look like, we’re ready to show it to you. Don’t delay! Reach out and schedule an initial consultation today!
Dr. Stephen Mulholland, Md
Dr. Stephen Mulholland has been practicing plastic surgery for over 20 years. He is one of Canada’s most renowned and best plastic surgeons in Toronto with his wealth of experience, artistry, and humbleness towards his patients.
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