How to sleep after a tummy tuck, BBL or breast surgery

Why sleeping position matters

After body contouring or breast surgery, the way you lie affects swelling, pressure on stitches and, after a BBL, the survival of the transferred fat. A tummy tuck pulls the abdominal skin downwards and tightens the muscles, so lying flat stretches the scar. Breast implants and lifted breast tissue need to settle without pressure from the side or front.

Sleep is also when many patients feel most uncomfortable: changing position is harder and you may wake when the pain relief wears off. A little preparation before surgery makes a big difference.

After a tummy tuck or mommy makeover

Sleep on your back with your upper body raised and your knees bent, in a gentle beach-chair position. This takes tension off the scar and the muscle repair. A wedge pillow behind your back, two or three pillows under your knees and one under each arm are a common set-up. Some women prefer to sleep in a recliner for the first week.

Avoid lying flat on your back or on your stomach. Most surgeons allow you to start turning slightly onto your side, supported by pillows, after about two to three weeks, depending on how you are healing.

If drains were placed, take care that the tubing is not trapped or pulled when you shift position at night; your nurse will show you how to secure the drain bottles. Because the abdominal skin feels tight when you stand up after lying down, it is normal to walk slightly bent forward in the mornings for the first week. This eases gradually as the tissues relax, and by the time you fly home most women are standing much straighter.

After a BBL or lipo 360 with BBL

The rule after a Brazilian butt lift is to avoid direct pressure on the buttocks while the transferred fat establishes a blood supply. That means sleeping on your front or on your side, alternating sides, with a pillow between your knees. If you also had liposuction of the abdomen, a soft pillow under the hips and chest can make lying on the front more comfortable.

You will also be advised to limit sitting for several weeks and to use a special BBL pillow, placed under the thighs so the buttocks are lifted, when sitting is unavoidable, including on the flight. Your surgeon will tell you how long these restrictions last for your case.

After breast augmentation, lift or reduction

Sleep on your back with your upper body slightly raised, wearing your support bra. Lying on your side presses the breast and can move an implant before the pocket has healed, and lying on your front puts pressure on incisions. Pillows on either side of your body help stop you rolling over in your sleep.

Many surgeons allow side sleeping from about four to six weeks after breast surgery, and stomach sleeping later still. Follow the timing your surgeon gives you.

After a breast reduction or lift, the incisions under the breast can feel sore against the bedding. A soft support bra worn at night, with a thin cotton layer under the fold if your surgeon allows it, keeps the area clean and comfortable.

A mommy makeover that includes several areas

When a tummy tuck is combined with breast surgery, the back-sleeping, upper-body-raised position suits both. When a BBL is part of the plan, the requirements conflict, which is one reason surgeons think carefully before combining a tummy tuck with buttock fat transfer. If both are done, you will receive specific instructions, often involving side sleeping with plenty of support.

Week-by-week comfort guide

Preparing your bedroom before you travel

Because you will spend the first part of your recovery in Istanbul, you only need to prepare your home for the weeks after you return. It is still worth doing before you leave, so that you do not have to shop or rearrange furniture when you get back tired from the journey.

• A wedge pillow or a stack of firm pillows to keep the upper body raised
• Extra soft pillows for the knees, the sides of the body and between the legs
• A BBL pillow if your plan includes buttock fat transfer
• A side table within easy reach for water, medication, phone and charger
• Clean sheets and a waterproof mattress protector in case of fluid leakage from incisions
• A night light so you can get up safely to the toilet
• Loose, front-opening nightwear that goes on easily over the garment

Getting in and out of bed

Use the log-roll technique. To get up, bend your knees, roll onto your side as one unit, let your legs come off the edge of the bed and push yourself up with your arms. To lie down, reverse the steps. This protects the abdominal repair and avoids pulling on breast incisions. After a BBL, roll from your side without sitting back onto your buttocks.

A bed that is not too low helps, and so does a bedside table within easy reach for water, medication and your phone. In the hotel in Istanbul, your coordinator can arrange extra pillows.

Tips for better sleep

• Take prescribed pain relief before bed rather than waiting for pain to wake you
• Have a wedge pillow, several soft pillows and a small cushion for your knees ready
• Keep the room cool; the garment is warm to sleep in
• Empty your bladder before bed so you get up less often
• Avoid caffeine in the afternoon and long naps late in the day
• Do short walks during the day; moving helps you sleep and protects circulation

When poor sleep is a warning sign

Disturbed sleep is normal in the first week. Contact your surgeon if pain is getting worse rather than better, if you have a fever, one breast becomes much larger or harder than the other, or one leg becomes swollen and painful. Sudden breathlessness or chest pain needs emergency care immediately. Once home, your GP can help with ongoing sleep problems, and your coordinator remains reachable for questions about your operation.

Questions about this topic

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