Best Sleeping Positions After Plastic Surgery
After your surgery, you’ll spend most of your recovery time napping and resting, which means you’ll need to understand how to safely do so. Sleeping in the proper position will ensure you are healing correctly to achieve optimal results. It will also help prevent discomfort and further complications. Below are the recommended sleeping positions based on your chosen cosmetic procedure.
How to Sleep After a Breast Procedure
If you’ve undergone a breast procedure, whether augmentation, lift, or reduction, it’s crucial to avoid sleeping on your stomach or side for a few weeks post-op. Sleeping on your back prevents strain on your incisions that could make them bleed. This sleeping position will also help keep pressure off of your tender breast tissue. Sleeping on your back is even more critical after a breast augmentation, as laying on your stomach or side will force your new implants into an abnormal position or shape.
How to Sleep After a Tummy Tuck
After a tummy tuck, it’s best to sleep slightly bent at the waist. Sleeping flat on your back will strain your incisions, potentially leading to complications. Sleeping on a recliner, if available, is easiest so you can stay slightly bent at the waist while also keeping your head and feet elevated. If you don’t have a recliner at your disposal, another good option is to place pillows under your knees and your head. If you wish, you can buy pillows specifically designed for this, but regular pillows will do.
How to Sleep After a BBL
Sleeping after a BBL is especially difficult as you cannot sit or lay on your buttocks for several weeks after surgery. The best way to sleep after a BBL is on your stomach. This prevents strain on your newly transferred fat cells. If you don’t normally sleep on your stomach, you may want to practice sleeping in this position before your surgery. Some patients invest in a massage chair as they can make sleeping on their stomach more comfortable while also keeping their neck and back properly aligned.
How to Sleep After Facial Surgery
When it comes to sleeping after facial surgery, it’s very important to sleep with your head elevated to minimize discomfort and swelling. Elevating your head also prevents strain on your incision sites. As with a tummy tuck, sleeping on a recliner may be the easiest and most comfortable way to sleep. If you don’t have access to a recliner, stack two to three pillows under your head to keep it elevated. Also, place pillows on either side of your head to keep it from rolling over during your sleep.
How to Sleep After Liposuction
Liposuction may leave you with small incisions, but they are incisions nonetheless and you should avoid straining them. As is true with facial surgery, it’s best to keep your head elevated when you sleep. It’s also smart to keep yourself slightly bent as you would after a tummy tuck. Again, sleeping in a recliner is best.
Tips for Sleeping Well Post-Surgery
We know that sleeping in a different position or place can prove difficult. One way to make it easier, as mentioned above, is to practice your new sleep routine for a few days before your surgery. You will also want to follow your doctor’s instructions about taking your pain medication. Pain can disrupt sleep, so have a plan for managing nighttime pain before your surgery and talk to your doctor for help. If your surgeon approves, sleeping pills may also work for you. Eye masks and earplugs are also helpful if environmental conditions like light or noise make sleeping difficult.
