Purpose of Binder After Tummy Tuck?

I answered this very question yesterday from another individual concerning how long to wear a binder and how should it fit. The binder is very helpful after abdominoplasty or tummy tuck and it should fit snug and comfortably without being tight. The binder supports the abdomen as you sit, stand up, deep breathe, or cough as needed, and supports the back as well as the abdomen. During the tummy tuck procedure there is often a repair or tightening of the muscle layer in the abdomen to... more

When there are several opinions on a subject, it means there is no true answer! Binders can help early on with compressing and keeping the skin adherent to the abdominal wall. It can also assist in early ,light bleeding. Binders will not make the result better or worse if you wear it or do not wear it. Your result will not be different if you choose the surgeon who does not use them . many patients like the "comfort" that the binder affords them, so I use them for a week or two.... more

A tummy tuck creates a large open space under the are of your abdomen that is undermined. Therefore, there is a tendency to have fluid accumulate into this space if it is not closed off. A binder, keeps this area under tension and allows healing to occur and lessens the chances of fluid buildup. Surgical drains are often used together with the binder to minimize a fluid build up (sermoma or hematoma). It is possible that your Doctor is using a tissue glue called Tisseal which can... more

The rule of compression after abdominoplasty is two fold. 1. It is to decrease swelling. 2. Also, to improve patient comfort. I have patients wear either a compression garment or an abdominal binder for two weeks post operatively and convert to a spandex type of garment up to a month after a procedure. Living in Dallas, TX I really don’t have patients wear these garments for more than two weeks day and night.

Every case is different, and I used to use binders a lot but have backed off from them a bit. Currently, I may use a binder for the first couple of days, primarily to hold gauze pads against the wound to absorb drainage. They also provide some support to the patient and it makes them feel more secure. However, binders can also cause problems, which is why you need to trust your surgeon's judgement in evaluating your case. Wearing a pair of Spanx is often more comfortable than the... more

I use them 100% of the time, and my patients love them too! They compress the tissues and decrease the time that drains remain in. They help the tissues redrape. They support the repair and hlep the patient be more comfortable. In fact, after I discontinue the binder, many, many patients tell me that they go on to wear it because it gives them "a sense of security". I am not saying I am wright, and he is wrong, I am stongly disagreeing with the comment. sek

Hi! There are no good scientific studies about this, but I can tell you that, in New York City, we use binders on some patients and not on others, and both groups do just fine. It's all about how the surgery is done.  And suction drains for about a week are important.

The use of abdominal binders following an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is very common. It serves several purposes. The first purpose is that it will help provide addtional comfort to the patient following surgery. Second, it will provide a small degree of compression to the abdominal skin flap to help minimize swelling and limit fluid accumulation. It is true, however, as with many things, too much of something can cause problems. If someone wears an adominal binder much too tightly, this... more

Hi there- Just as with any other operation, there will be some swelling after your tummy tuck... wearing a compression binder will limit the degree of swelling, and accelerate its resolution. Additionally, the suture repair of your muscles will be a bit vulnerable for the first few weeks, and wearing a binder helps to support the repair while it heals, lowering the risk of the disrupting the repair. Finally, the binder will greatly diminish the discomfort that most patients experience after this more

Hello Many patients feel that light compression from a binder gives their operated area support. If you ask them what feels better , binder or no binder, they uniformly answer they like their binder as long as it is not too tight. I am not sure they do much from a result standpoint, but from a "feel good standpoint" they help. If you use one make absolutely sure you undo it a few times a day. Also make sure it leaves no ridges and does not compress your incision site. Make... more