Is The Skin Sensitivity Of My Breasts Normal Right After Breast Augmentation?

Q: Dr. Eppley, I have a couple of questions for you. I had breast augmentation about 10 days ago. I am still a little swollen which I have expected. However, I can’t quite put my finger on it to describe it, but after wearing a bra for a while, I get the feeling like I am rubbed raw. But you don’t really see anything and it was mainly around the bottom of the bra.  I even bought a bigger size around thinking that was the problem, but it didn’t seem to matter and again, you don’t really see anything so I couldn’t figure it out.

Over the past two days not only is it around where the bottom of the bra hits but on the sides of my breasts as well.  I realized last night its like they are extra sensitive.  I have worn a silky night shirt throughout the weekend up to last night.  It didn’t bother me before but last night it was bothering me a lot.  I had to buy a new one since my other ones no longer fit.  Since it is bigger, it moves around when I walk etc. and moves over my breasts.  It was very irritating to the point I was holding the nightie each time I walked so it wouldn’t move.  So I realized, its like my breast are very senstive to anything moving against them like that…if this even makes sense.  Its not like that if I touch them myself, but clothing.  Is that normal and will it stop?

Also, I think I read I am not supposed to wear underwire bras.  Is that only during healing time or never?  All the bras I find in department stores look like my grandma would wear them and of course all the pretty ones are underwire.  A friend suggested Victoria Secrets, so I plan to try there I just didn’t want to invest in a lot of bras until swelling, etc. is all gone so I buy what I really need, etc.

Thanks for your help.

A: You have inquired about two very typical issues after breast augmentation. The skin feelings that you are having are the tiny skin nerves, which have been temporaily disconnected or stretched, trying to recover. Think of it as the pins and needsl feeling you get when your foot falls asleep. That will typically subside around four to six weeks after surgery. That is different than some longer lasting numbness which may remain on the skin on the bottom part of the breast.

Not wearing an underwire bra for 6 weeks after surgery is to relieve any pressure on the healing inframmary incision It is also to make sure the breast implant and its lower pocket is not pushed upward as it is healing so the implant sits down in a more natural position.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis Indiana