We gathered the most common questions from patients across the globe to create the most comprehensive guide you will find anywhere online. In this article, you will learn about the benefits of compression, how to wear one properly, and even some tips for hiding your post-op garment under clothes.
Compression garment are an important part of postoperative care. Wearing a compression garment can make an impact on your surgical results, speeding recovery and helping to shape your new contours. They speed the healing process, which means you can get back to living your life sooner after surgery. Wearing a compression garment takes a lot of guesswork out of the equation when it comes to your results.
Patients who wear compression garments may experience less pain compared to those who do not wear them. So, what do compression garments do exactly? The idea is to help close the space that is created within the abdomen as a part of body contouring surgery. When a patient undergoes a tummy tuck, the flap of skin is elevated off the abdominal wall, leaving a space. The same thing occurs with body lift procedures, which also create a gap between skin and tissue.
Liposuction, too, results in a void where the fat used to be. When skin and muscle are elevated, you want them to heal in the correct position. One goal of compression garments is to encourage tissue to re-adhere to your abdominal wall by closing the space with gentle, constant pressure.
Compression may help tissues re-adhere exactly as intended by keeping everything in its proper place. Compression garments serve many purposes to help aid your recovery after a tummy tuck, lipo or body lift. Some of the key benefits include:. Patients typically wear a compression garment for weeks following larger body contouring procedures on average. For minor procedures, two weeks may be enough. If you find wearing a post-surgical garment uncomfortable, it is worth mentioning it to your surgeon.
They may be able to make adjustments or advise you on how to make things feel a bit more comfortable as your recover. After surgery, many surgeons recommend wearing the garment day and night for the first weeks, except to shower. Of course, this can vary depending on the exact procedure and extent of surgery. During the second phase of recovery usually weeks , you may only need to wear the garment during the daytime.
Some surgeons recommend wearing it around the clock, even in recovery phase two, if you can tolerate it. This is a tricky question. Some surgeons use the words interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same thing. Both are post-surgical devices that apply gentle pressure to promote healing and reduce swelling. Many patients will initially wear a binder first thing after a tummy tuck. Binders are a type of wrapping that is typically made from a stretchy, elastic material with a Velcro closure.
The concept is similar to an Ace bandage that you might find in the first aid aisle of the pharmacy. A tummy tuck binder is larger and a bit sturdier than that, but you get the idea. A compression garment is more like an article of clothing.
Instead of Velcro, compression garments usually have hooks or zippers for closure. They are also typically larger than compression binders. The larger surface area is useful for patients who have undergone multiple body contouring procedures in areas like the belly, hips and thighs. You may be asked to wear both types at different stages of your recovery. Some surgeons prefer to use only one or the other. It is safe and necessary to remove your compression garment when showering.
Most patients are cleared to shower 48 hours after a tummy tuck, liposuction or a body lift. When you are done bathing, gently pat yourself dry with a clean towel. When your skin is completely dry, it is time to put your compression garment back on. It is important to choose a high-quality device to minimize your post-op discomfort. This will make your recovery a little easier.
Beldholm advises his patients to wear a compression garment for six weeks following larger surgeries such as body lifts and tummy tucks. For smaller procedures like breast augmentation or a breast lift, you will be placed in a surgical bra for four weeks. It will probably be more uncomfortable. It is a decision you will likely regret. Body procedures typically require a garment that extends from below the breasts and fits at the bottom like a leotard or girdle, with openings to allow you to use the bathroom without taking the garment completely off.
Following breast augmentation , patients sometimes are asked to wear a surgical compression bra, which looks similar to a high-impact sports bra without underwire. We admit it. However, the benefits for your comfort and results are well worth it:. Compression should feel noticeably snug, and but not so tight that it causes discomfort or makes breathing difficult.
Parker will give you a specific time frame for how long you will need to wear compression. After this first phase, expect to wear compression at night for several more weeks to promote healing and protect your scars as you sleep.
Keeping your garment clean will make wearing it more pleasant. Share on facebook. Share on twitter. Share on linkedin. Share on print. Share on email. Back to All Blogs. Contact Us. Instagram Facebook-f Twitter Youtube.
Contact us. Privacy Policy. Plastic Surgery. Breast Procedures. Body Procedures. Too much compression can prolong swelling and edema. Excessive compression after all drainage has ceased, can impair the normal function of lymphatic capillaries which is to absorb residual tumescent fluid and inflammatory exudate from the tissues of the liposuction site.
Too little compression will permit the accumulation of fluid within the tunnels created by the liposuction cannula within targeted fat. Although Reston foam does reduce bruising after liposuction, its dangers far outweigh its benefits. A bruise occurs when red blood cells leak out of blood vessels and move toward the skin surface. Reston foam applied directly to skin can compress capillary blood vessels.
This impairs oxygen delivery to the skin, and can cause blistering and ulceration of the skin. Several patients have died from infection necrotizing fasciitis associated with the use of Reston foam after liposuction.
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