This article is for general information and is not a substitute for the instructions your cardiologist and device clinic give you. Your doctor will tell you how long to limit arm movement and how to look after the wound.
A pacemaker is a small device placed under the skin, usually below the collarbone on the left side, with thin wires that run to the heart. The operation is short, but the area around the device is sore and the wound needs to heal. The clothing questions that follow are practical ones: what presses on the site, how do I dress when I am told not to raise my arm, and where can I safely carry things.
What to avoid pressing on the site
- Straps over the implant: bra straps, shoulder bag straps, backpack straps and the strap of a sling bag can rub on the healing pocket. Move them to the other shoulder or choose clothing and bags that keep weight off the site.
- Tight or stiff collars and necklines that sit on or just above the collarbone
- Rough or tight fabric across the upper chest
- Heavy necklaces or pendants that rest on the site
Dressing without raising your arm
After implant, doctors commonly advise limiting how high you raise the arm on the side of the pacemaker, and avoiding heavy lifting with it, for a number of weeks while the wires settle. Your doctor will give you the details for your own case. The effect on dressing is the same as after shoulder surgery: pulling a pullover over the head is awkward and uncomfortable.
- Front-opening tops mean you do not have to lift the arm overhead. A front-open kurti or nighty for women, and a side-opening shirt for men, close with velcro and go on one arm at a time.
- Put the arm on the implant side in first and take it out last, so it is not pulled or strained.
- Choose loose sleeves so you are not pushing the arm through a tight opening.
Our guide to dressing after shoulder surgery explains the same technique in more detail.
Bras, seat belts and pockets
- Bras: choose a soft bra with wide straps that do not press on the pocket, or a front-fastening one, until the wound has healed. Your doctor or nurse can advise whether to pad the strap.
- Seat belts: keep wearing the seat belt, but a small folded cloth between the belt and the site can reduce rubbing. Ask your doctor about this.
- Shirt pockets: avoid carrying a phone or other electronic device in a breast pocket directly over the pacemaker. Your device team will tell you how far to keep it.
The first weeks
- Keep the wound clean and dry as instructed, and keep clothing loose over it.
- Choose soft cotton that breathes and does not stick to a healing wound.
- Check the site each day and let your doctor know about redness, swelling, warmth, discharge, or a swollen arm on that side.
When you can go back to normal clothing
Once the wound has healed and your doctor has cleared you to move the arm normally, most people go back to ordinary clothing. Some keep one front-opening top for bad days. Keep carrying your pacemaker identification card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear a normal bra after a pacemaker?
Once the wound has healed, usually yes. Early on, choose a soft, wide-strapped or front-fastening bra so that nothing presses on the device pocket. Ask your doctor or nurse when to resume your usual one.
Can I carry a phone in my shirt pocket?
Avoid carrying a phone or other electronic device in a breast pocket right over the pacemaker. Your device team will tell you how far to keep it, and you can carry it on the other side or in a trouser pocket.
Do I have to stop wearing a seat belt?
No. A seat belt is important. A small folded cloth between the belt and the site can reduce rubbing while it heals, but ask your doctor.
How do I put on a T-shirt after a pacemaker implant?
Pulling a pullover over the head means raising the arm, which you may be told to limit. Front-opening or side-opening tops are easier, and the arm on the implant side goes in first.
From the Aasra team: see our guides to clothing for cardiac rehabilitation and what to wear after open-heart surgery.