Best Sleeping Position After Plastic Surgery
Finding the best sleeping position after plastic surgery requires a bit of planning. If you are reading this, then you are one step ahead of the game!
In general, preparation for plastic surgery is key. While you secure helpers for kids and household chores, you must tend to your own body’s needs with proper nutrition and fluids. Just as important for a smooth recovery is learning about the best sleeping position after plastic surgery.
At Tannan Plastic Surgery, we show you and your caregiver the best sleeping positions in person as you leave our on-site surgery center. It doesn’t help to know a little bit in advance, too! This post helps you know about positions, pillows to have on hand, and other tips to help you sleep soundly after plastic surgery.
Best Sleeping Position after Breast Surgery
The best sleeping positions after breast surgery procedures like Breast Augmentation, Breast Reduction, and Breast Lift surgery are similar. We give you a surgical bra to wear while you are sleeping the first several days after surgery.
Our recommendation is for you stay semi-upright, at about a 45 degree incline for the first 4 days after surgery. This minimizes breast swelling and encourages swelling to leave the breast and go downhill. Wedge pillows, so-called boyfriend or husband pillows, can be super helpful here. Or you could just stack up some pillows behind your back. We have you doing other things to minimize swelling too.
Side-sleeping is discouraged during the first week after surgery. That can lead to swelling on the side you sleep on compared to the other side. After one week, you are free to sleep on your side or your back. We recommend waiting until about four weeks before trying to sleep on your stomach.
Best Sleeping Position after Tummy Tuck Surgery
The best sleeping position after Tummy Tuck surgery is one where you are most comfortable on your back with your hips slightly bent. We don’t want you bent 90 degrees at the hip!
We suggest that in the first week you have no more than a 45 degree bend at your hips. You can do this one of two ways. You might choose to lie flat on your back with multiple pillows under your knees to lift up your thighs. Alternatively you can sit up with pillows behind your back or use a wedge pillow behind your back and again bend your knees to relax your lower back.
If you had a Mommy Makeover where we operate on your breasts at the time of your Tummy Tuck, you should sit up as if you were in a recliner rather than be flat on your back. By the end of the first week of surgery, you should be standing up straight. At that time you can lay flat on your back or side sleep. You will want to wait 4-6 weeks into your recovery before you try sleeping on your stomach.
Best Sleeping Position after Rhinoplasty and Eyelid Lift (Blepharoplasty)
The best sleeping positions after we operate on your nose (Rhinoplasty) or eyes (Blepharoplasty) are similar. We recommend you stay semi-upright at about a 45 degree incline for the first 7 days after surgery. This minimizes swelling and encourages the swelling to leave the eyes and nose.
Wedge pillows can be very effective here. Or you could just stack up some pillows behind your back. Don’t side-sleep that first week after surgery – that can lead to swelling that is more on the side you sleep compared to the other side.
After one week, you are free to sleep on your side or your back. We recommend you wait until about six weeks to try to sleep on your stomach.
Best Sleeping Position after Facelift and Necklift
The best sleeping position after a Facelift and Necklift is completely flat on your back with no pillows under your neck. We want the swelling to go straight back and not collect in your lower neck. That is inevitable during the day as you are upright, so the nighttime gives the swelling a chance to settle toward the back of your head rather than at the base of your neck.
You will be in a garment to help guide the swelling backwards as well. We recommend doing this for the first two weeks, after which you may side sleep. It is ideal to wait about six weeks to stomach sleep.
We will go over the best sleeping position after plastic surgery with you during your consultation. We recommend you ask your board certified plastic surgeon for any specifics as they pertain to your personal situation. In the meantime, we hope this guide is helpful in planning for. you best sleeping position after plastic surgery!
Call (919) 797-0996 to schedule your plastic surgery consultation today!
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