Compression Garment Concerns After Lipo

asked 2 years ago by picky82
Latest answer by Ricardo Rodriguez, MD
Question viewed 7,617 times
Tags: abdomen, compression garment, lumps, recovery

I'm 26yrs old, 113 lbs and had 550 cc's removed from my stomach/flanks through Liposuction exactly 1 week ago. The compression garment the doctor gave me is adding to the lumpiness (I knew to expect some). Is the type/brand of garment important for outcome? Is tighter/stiffer better? My ribs are little sore. Is this amount of unevenness normal? Thank you!

11 answers to Compression Garment Concerns After Lipo

Compression garments after liposuction

There is no perfect compression garment and this is an area of research that may be negelected and warrants further study. This often comes down to the physicians personal preferences and experience and so I will describe my regimen. The other physicans have brought up the standard goals of compression. Typically during the first week, I use a similar type garment to the one shown in your photos plus a special foam over the liposuction treated areas to evenly distribute the pressure and... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Compression garments don't affect final lipo results

Dear Picky That compression garment really is unimportant to the final outcome of your liposuction. There are several good reasons why we ask patients to wear the garments after liposuction. First immediately after liposuction, we believe that gentle pressure on the area that has had liposuction reduces the already small incidence of bleeding. The compression garment also support the tissues and this helps with overall comfort. For this reason, some find that wearing the compression... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Compression garments after liposuction

The garment you show in your photos is really one that is used primarily for tummy tucks. I prefer garments that you have to zipper on like a girdle. They don't usually cause as many ripples.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Liposuction and Contouring

Contouring is all done in the operating room. The garment is to help with the edema and swelling and comfort. It really will not shape you, your surgeon does that. The fact that you see some lumpiness is common after surgery and you are very early to tell how your result will be. You need to wait about 3-4 months for you final result. At this point I would continue with the garment and follow your surgeons instructions. Good luck.

Farbod Esmailian, MD
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

1 week after lipo is early to get worried

1 week after lipo is early to get worried about anything. You still have considerable swelling to resolve. In the long run, the garment does not really matter. The garment helps with short-term swelling reduction and helps reduce pain due to shearing forces. You are not wearing a garment anyway, you are wearing a binder. You might want to consider something like a Spanx garment, which is form fitting and seamless. You will get less short-term ridging like you have from the binder. ... more

David Shafer, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

www.ShaferPlasticSurgery.com

Lumpiness has to do more with technique than the garment

No matter which modality you use for liposuction, the area should be uniform and without major lumps. During healing when there's tissue inflammation there can be some irregularities, but these resolve over time. A form fitting compression garment with thick foam (like epifoam) underneath causes uniform compression. I tell my patients when they sit, to slouch and keep the abdomen straight and not wear any constricting clothing or belts especially in the first week. The binder you have on is... more

George Marosan, MD
Bellevue Plastic Surgeon

Waviness influenced by garment

Waviness is an intrinsic risk or potential side effect of liposuction. A compression garment is usually intended for use most importantly during the first week when swelling and burising is occurring. However, I usually suggest wearing it around the abdomen only when standing or walking. Not only is the edema increased when standing but the garment makes patients feel more secure. You have to be careful using it when sitting or reclinging since the flexion at the waist can cause creases and... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Topifoam and girdle type garments

Like Dr. Marosan a couple of posts above me, I'm a great fan of topifoam (or epifoam). I also recommend Spanx after the first couple of weeks. The skin heals best when it is "splinted" and under compression. The epifoam protects against creases when sitting or moving around and concentrates the pressure in an even form over the liposuctioned area. The garment should extend above and below the liposuctioned area. I prefer those with straps over the shoulders as they keep the... more

Ricardo Rodriguez, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Compression garment doesn't really add "lasting lumps"

Hello, Right after liposuction, surgery patients can be kinda lumpy. The garments actually help reduce this. The folds in them do not lead to long lasting lumps. It is important that your surgeon sees you in your garment and approves of how it fits you howerver.

John P. Di Saia, MD
Orange Plastic Surgeon

Looks OK

The compression garment will tend to cause temporary waviness because the tension isn't even. At this point the waves are due to more swelling being moved out from the areas under greatest tension. It will be nearly impossible to see any divots or high points at this point due to swelling. sek

Scott E. Kasden, MD
Dallas Plastic Surgeon

At one week after liposuction, you're OK

The compression garment decreases swelling, but willnot dictate the final shape. The liposuction is defined at surgery. The final appearance willdepend on that surgery. Keep on the compression garment, and don't worry about it until the swelling isgone in3 to 12 months.