Choosing the correct sleeping positions post surgery is very important. The way you sleep after different surgeries will affect your comfort, your health and the healing process. However, how you need to sleep will vary depending on which type of surgery you received. The best sleeping position for you is:
Breast augmentation
No matter what type of breast augmentation you had, the best sleeping position will be on your back. You should keep your head elevated with two to three pillows, and use further pillows to support your arms. Sleeping in this position will allow your breasts to heal without any pressure or too much movement. For the first few days post-op, you will have drains inserted to release any excess fluid, so sleeping on your back will remove any potential discomfort and pain from the drains.
Fat transfer to Buttocks
Having a fat transfer to the buttocks is a very major procedure, with a healing time that is long compared to some other more straightforward procedures. Fat transfer to the buttocks involves fat being removed via liposuction from a donor area and re-injected back into the buttocks. We are well aware that the donor area will be very sore, however, you cannot sit or lay on the buttocks or on your back for at least six weeks. This is because the pressure to the buttocks will kill the fat resulting in fat loss and an unsatisfying result. As such, it is best to sleep on your side or front while recovering.
Liposuction
The best sleeping position after liposuction will vary depending on which area you had the fat removed from. If you have had liposuction, you may experience discomfort or pain in these areas for a few weeks following the procedure. To help the healing process, and to ensure you can get as much rest as possible, it is best to avoid sleeping on the area which has been operated on.
Abdominoplasty / Tummy tuck
Having a tummy tuck involves both liposuction and skin removal. This means that the skin on the abdomen will be very tight and irritable. We advise our patients to sleep on their back in a kind of banana shape to stop any unnecessary tension on the stomach. Sleeping upright with pillows under the legs will help to elevate pain.
Otoplasty
After an otoplasty, your ears and the area around will be sore and swollen, so there will be no sleeping on either side of your body. You should sleep on your back so that the ears have no pressure on them. However, we advise you to follow your surgeons sleeping advice and also by what makes you feel comfortable.