Is It Necessary to Wear a Girdle After Tummy Tuck?

I request that all of our abdominoplasty patients wear a binder during the first three weeks post-operatively. One of the biggest enemies cosmetic surgery patients face after surgery is swelling. What's the point of reducing or tightening an area through liposuction, facelift, or in this case abdominoplasty if you're not going to try to control the amount of post-operative swelling that can significantly reduce what you accomplished in surgery? Ours is a multi-step program. We ask patients... more

There are a multitude of approaches when it comes to post-operative care. The general tendency is to wear a compression garment to compress the skin against the muscle with the intention to limit swelling (edema), minimize fluid collections (seroma) and prevent localized bleeding (hematoma). Kind of similar to squeezing your nose when you have a nose bleed. Some physicians use drains while other's don't. In those that don't, they may use a technique called quilting sutures to make the skin... more

This truly is a preference of the surgeon, and should be discussed in advance of any procedure. I will suggest, however, that many surgeons, myself included, insist on the patient wearing a binder (similar to a girdle) for a period of four to six weeks after the surgery. The reasons for this are many, but suffice to say that many surgeons see it as a valuable and useful form of treatment after the abdominoplasty.

Although each surgeon has their own preferences and techniques, most use some sort of postoperative support. Patients like the support provided by a binder. It helps with movement after surgery and decreases discomfort as well as help with swelling and fluid buildup. I would ask your surgeon the reasoning behind foregoing the binder. They will usually provide an answer that is acceptable depending on their surgical techniques such as using drains and/or quilting sutures.

It is necessary to wear some type of elastic support garment (girdle) for the first month after a tummy tuck.  After that it usually is not necessary.

Clea91, It is not essential that you wear a girdle or compression garment after a tummy tuck. Some doctors recommend it others don't. If the tummy tuck result is good then I don't think a girdle will improve results. I often use an abdominal binder, not too tightly, after a tummy tuck, just for patient comfort. It is important that the girdle or compression garment not be too tight if one is used. I have seen patients who have had skin damage and actually lost skin after a tummy tuck when... more

If the tummy tuck is done without liposuction, wearing the garment is not as strict and it is mainly for comfort and protection. I always make sure that the garment is not tight at all during the first few days to avoid any pressure necrosis on the abdominal flap. If lipousction is done at the same time, I keep it loose in the first few days and ask my patients to wear it for 4-6 weeks afterwards to help with the swelling. Hope that helps!

In our practice, we will place an elastic abdominal binder around your tummy after surgery to provide some gentle pressure, to give you stability, and to reduce swelling.  If it feels too tight or causes pain, take it off.  We do not want the abdominal binder to interfere with circulation to the skin, which could cause blistering or skin loss!  The binder may also be removed for laundering.  Many patients will wear the binder for several weeks after surgery... more

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. In our practice, we include liposuction with every tummy tuck. We strongly feel that liposuction is important technique that allows us to contour your body and reach areas of the abdomen that we otherwise would not be able to get to with a tummy tuck alone. Patients who undergo this procedure must understand that there is a significant recovery process. Patients will experience swelling and bruising that can... more

Every doctor is different. I prefer to use an abdominal binder but prefer not to use a strong compression garment like I do for liposuction. I think the abdominal binder helps keep the tissues adherent to the underlying tissues. But, some doctors feel this doesn't do anything and therefore don't use them.

Hi there, The details of the postop management are really going to depend on the details of what was done in surgery, and it is possible that you had an operation which would not require compression. A traditional tummy tuck would involve elevation of the skin and tightening of the muscle layer, and most surgeons would have you wear compression for some time in order to prevent fluid accumulation. Talk to your surgeon about why this is or is not necessary. He or she is the only one who... more