How Does a Tummy Tuck Binder Help with Drains and Recovery?

A firm fitting binder or garment is helpful to reduce swelling after liposuction and tummy tucks, however, it should not be tight! During a tummy tuck, the skin is undermined meaning that it has been separated from the muscle. In doing so, much of the blood supply to the remaining skin and fat has been reduced. If the binder is too tight, more blood supply to the skin and fat can be reduced and if it gets to a critical level the skin and fat can die resulting in worse scars and delayed healing. Wearing the garment tighter probably does not allow the drains to come out faster. I like the word 'snug' when referring to the tightness of the binder.

Hello!  Thank you for your question!.  The tummy tuck procedure is an excellent method for contouring of your abdomen, often removing the excess skin as well as tightening the abdominal wall.  After nearly all surgical procedures, a potential space is created from where the surgical procedure/dissection was performed.  This is especially true for the tummy tuck, in where the abdominal flap is raised off of the abdominal wall and then redraped atop the area to contour the abdomen.  The procedure alone promotes swelling and inflammation, which typically lasts for 6-12 weeks.  This may even last longer if liposuction has been performed in addition.  During this time, a few things may be done to allow adherence of the abdominal skin/soft tissue to readhere to the abdominal wall and close that space.  Many surgeons use drains to evacuate the expected serous fluid from building up.  Stagnant fluid as such may be a nidus for infection as well as does not allow the tissue to adhere back to its normal anatomic position.  Drains usually are removed once output is <30cc/day - usually removed within 3-4 weeks on average, sometimes longer.  When this occurs, a seroma may develop - which may require aspiration or surgical evacuation to rid this in order to optimize your result.  This is not an uncommon reason for persistent swelling and/or bulging in a certain area of your belly.  Of course, thwarting the development of a pseudobursa, or seroma capsule, is always best, to provide the best result as well as avoid any future procedures for this.  This may be a troubling consequence and often compromises your overall result.  Thus avoiding this complication, in whatever manner, is the objective.  "Drainless" tummy tucks are becoming more popular - basically, the overlying tissue is physically sutured to the abdominal wall to close the potential space.  In addition, most surgeons typically restrict vigorous activity/strenuous exercise as well as lifting restrictions of usually <20#, especially the core, for 6-8 weeks to allow healing to continue.  Most also often recommend an abdominal compression-type binder, which will serve to provide compression as well as assist to decrease swelling and eliminate the dead-space of the area for at least 6 weeks as well.  Most patients are able to return to most activities within a couple of weeks, provided they adhere to the restrictions.  Overall, this is a procedure with a high satisfaction rate.  Discuss the procedure and postoperative instructions/restrictions with your surgeon, as these will vary among surgeons.  Hope that this helps!  Best wishes!

Thank you for your question. A binder is often used after a Tummy Tuck to improve your comfort, and possibly to reduce drainage and certainly to provide support.It is important that a binder not be placed too tightly on the abdomen after Tummy Tuck. An extremely tight binder could interfere with blood supply to the skin and cause necrosis or damage near the suture line.