Post-surgery, nothing sounds better than sprawling out on the couch, in a cozy knit pajama set. In some cases, that’s exactly how you can spend your recovery. But if you’re getting liposuction, or any plastic surgery procedure that involves liposuction, the reality is that afterward, you’re going to feel more like a sausage in a casing than anything else. It’ll take months for the swelling to go down and your final results to appear, and in that time, you’ll be living in a compression garment. Here’s everything you need to know about this must-have item.
What is a compression garment?
According to Dr. David Sieber, a board-certified plastic surgeon in San Francisco, “a compression garment is anything worn on the body in the postsurgical time period that adds additional compression beyond what normal clothing would, to help reduce swelling.”
Which surgical procedures are associated with compression garments?
Doctors recommend post-surgical compression garments after any procedure that involves liposuction, such as a tummy tuck, an arm lift, a body lift, or a BBL. “Liposuction requires a compression garment for three main reasons: it restricts the amount of edema buildup and hastens its resolution by mechanical pressure, it decreases the amount of bruising, and it assists the loose skin in retracting or shrinking,” says Dr. Larry Nichter, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California.
Post breast augmentation or breast lift, Dr. Sieber recommends patients wear a sports bra in a breathable fabric rather than a “supertight surgical compression bra.”
Abdominal compression garments can also aid in C-section recovery during the postpartum period.
Do you have to wear a compression garment post-surgery?
If you want to see your body-contouring results more quickly, it’s in your best interests to wear the compression garment. Doctors generally agree that there are no downsides to wearing a properly fitted garment and that it serves only to help the recovery process. “Compression helps reduce swelling and bruising and promotes a more contoured look. After an abdominoplasty, compression is key to reduce swelling and prevent seroma formation by forcing the layers of the skin to adhere. It also helps to support the abdominal wall muscles,” says Woodbury, New York, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stephen Greenberg, adding that patients tend to like the extra support compression garments give.
“Most doctors use them because we really see the benefits of using them,” says Dr. Sieber, “but if patients are having problems with compression garments, one thing that helps is lymphatic massage.”
How tight should the compression garment be?
“I always tell people [that it] should be snug but not uncomfortable,” says Dr. Sieber. He acknowledges that sizing can be tricky, since most shapewear companies have their own sizing systems. “Just because you wear a medium in sweatpants doesn’t mean you’re going to [wear] a medium compression garment. The best way to make sure is to get a cloth tape measure and measure all the recommended areas, usually the waist and hips. Based on those two measurements, [companies] give you two columns—and you should order whichever size is larger. So if your hip size is a large, but your waist size is a medium, order the large garment.”
Your doctor will likely take your measurements at your pre-op appointment, for your chart, and either provide you with a garment or tell you what size to buy.
Do you need someone to help you get in and out of the garment?
For the first couple of days, when it can be hard to put on the garment due to the swelling, it’s helpful to have a friend or family member on hand to assist, but by the one-week mark, Dr. Sieber says, you should be able to do it on your own. If it still feels too tight to pull up, fasten, or velcro properly, you should switch to a larger size.
How many compression garments do you need?
Most patients use two over the course of the healing process—a stage 1 garment and a stage 2 garment.
“Usually, you want a slightly larger compression immediately after surgery, to account for some of the post-op swelling. A month later, I’ll put [patients] in a really firm, tight compression garment. After the first couple of weeks, patients will need to go down one to three sizes, depending on how swollen they are,” says Dr. Sieber.
How long do you need to wear compression garments post-surgery?
It depends on how much fat was removed, the elasticity of your skin, and how much excess skin there is, says Dr. Nichter. “[For optimal results] I recommend my patients wear their garments for a minimum of three weeks full-time, then for 12 hours, day or night … for a maximum of six weeks.”
In the first month post-surgery, you should be taking off the garment only to shower and get lymphatic massages, adds Dr. Sieber, who also recommends wearing the stage 2 compression for 12 hours a day, for two months or longer.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Surgical Drains
What are the risks of an improperly fitted compression garment?
Burns, contour irregularities, and skin necrosis are all risks of wearing a garment that is too tight. Dr. Sieber provides patients with a thin layer of foam that wraps around the torso and goes under the compression garment, to get ahead of these issues. “[The foam vest] helps prevent burns because it’s preventing a tight band of compression in that one area. It also helps prevent contour irregularities because it distributes some of the pressure more evenly.” Contour irregularities look like dents or rippling in the skin; Dr. Sieber says revision liposuction is usually done to fix those uneven areas caused by improper compression.
Doctor-recommended postsurgical compression garments
Foam vest
Macom Batman 4D Sculpt ($98)
Wear this adjustable vest against your skin, under your compression garment, for a more precise, even fit that reduces the risk of irritation, indentations, and rippling.
BBL
Marena Compression Bodysuit for BBL Fat Transfer ($200)
This bodysuit hits the right balance between compression and comfort, with a soft, light fabric and sacral pads that alleviate pain and pressure around the tailbone.
Abdominal procedures
Design Veronique #85 Zippered Torso Brief ($104.95)
In the early days of tummy tuck recovery, you want a garment that supports the core muscles and is easy to get in and out of. This surgeon-favorite style has compression panels on the stomach, a snap crotch, and a zipper down the side.
Arm liposuction and arm lifts
Leonisa Invisible Slimming Arm Shaper ($25)
You can avoid wearing a full constricting compression shirt after an arm lift or lipo with this discreet 3/4-sleeve shaper that covers only the arms and hooks behind the neck.
Face liposuction and facelifts
Shapewear USA Clear Point Medical Face Lift Wrap ($34)
Unlike other compression garments, doctors typically recommend patients wear facial garments 24/7 only for the first few days following submental liposuction or a facelift. After that, you can sleep in it for another month—longer, if your swelling is more severe.
Allover compression (stage 2)
LipoQueen The Vixen ($180)
Designed by Beverly Hills, California, board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Suzanne Trott and tested on her patients, this all-in-one garment does double duty, as a stage 2 compression garment for liposuction patients looking to fit into tight clothes after surgery and as long-term shapewear. The garment features compression concentrated around the stomach, thighs, flanks, and bra line—the most common lipo areas, notes the doctor—with lighter support on the butt and breasts, to prevent squishing or flattening the natural shape.
