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Your journey · stage 3 of 5

The first days after

Drains, dressings, dressing yourself, and sleeping.

Woman sleeping peacefully in white bed linen, illustrating overnight wear during the first days after surgery

The first days are about rest, drains and getting comfortable in small increments. The bra stays on day and night on its loosest row, straps open for dressing checks, and nothing you feel this week is the final result.

The short version

Wear the bra on the loosest row of hooks; move in only when swelling starts to settle
Sleep propped up on pillows, with one under each arm
Getting out of bed: roll to your side first, then push up with your lower arm
Take pain relief on schedule rather than waiting for pain
Hot, red, leaking wounds or a temperature: ring the ward, do not wait

How long do you need to wear a post surgery bra?

Most surgeons ask you to wear a soft, wire-free, front-fastening bra day and night for around four to eight weeks after breast surgery, depending…

How to sleep after breast surgery

Most women are most comfortable sleeping on their back, propped up on several pillows rather than lying flat, with a pillow under each arm…

Worth doing at this stage

Putting the bra on with one usable arm

The step-by-step, including fastening from the bottom hook.

A second bra, 15% off

One to wear, one to wash. The discount applies automatically.

We don't sell any of these services or products. We've included them because recovery is about more than what you wear. Sometimes, finding the right advice, support or specialist is one of the most important parts of the journey.

Nicole de Havilland, in her studio
Chosen by Nicole de Havilland Lymphoedema practitioner for more than thirty years, and designer of the Reco Bra®

Going into hospital

Packing for a mastectomy or a reconstruction, and the one thing most lists leave off.

  • Drain Dollies (opens in a new tab)

    Surgical drain bags that hang from the shoulder, so drains can be carried without lifting your arms. Two for a double mastectomy, one for a single.

    Designed by a patient. Profits go to Prevent Breast Cancer.

Getting to the toilet after abdominal surgery

After abdominal surgery, lowering yourself onto a toilet and standing up again can be uncomfortable while the abdomen heals. Standing to urinate avoids some of that movement and pressure.

  • Shewee (opens in a new tab)

    The original stand-to-pee device. The Reco Brief is designed with a discreet opening so it can be used without taking the garment off.

    Reco Heart works in collaboration with Shewee, and Reco Heart customers get 10% off with the code RECO10. Always follow your surgical team's advice.

Padding, if you have been advised to use it

Some surgical teams recommend soft padding over the breast in the early weeks, particularly after a mastectomy or lipofilling. The Reco Bra® can be worn over padding, as directed by your team.

  • LanaCare breast surgery pads (opens in a new tab)

    Soft wool pads shaped to sit over the breast after mastectomy, reconstruction, augmentation or radiotherapy, in four sizes.

    Sold from Europe and priced in euros. Ask your surgical team before putting any padding over a healing wound.

Lymphoedema: where to start

If lymph nodes were removed, or you have had radiotherapy, this is the part of recovery least likely to be explained to you properly.

Compression, if you have been advised to wear it

Either as a preventative after lymph node removal or radiotherapy, or because swelling has already started.

If surgery is being discussed

A specialist route rather than a first step, and one to raise with your own team.

Future Dreams

The UK's dedicated breast cancer support centre, in Kings Cross and online.

These are other people's organisations and we have no control over what they publish. Nothing here replaces the advice of your own surgeon, breast care nurse or GP.