7 days post op Tummy Tuck, I think I am psychologically dependent on my binding garment. Is this normal?

It is fairly common to feel better with the garment in place versus off for the first several weeks after an abdominoplasty. This feeling will subside with time. Despite what you are feeling when you remove the garment, it is not doing any harm to your recovery to have it off for a short period of time.

Congratulations on completion of your procedure.  You are to be commended on being so compliant with wearing your compression garment. Our practice commonly hears patients remark regarding how they actually feel better when they are in their garment,  even several weeks after an abdominoplasty.  We recommend our post surgical patients wear their garment around the clock (except when showering and to wash and air dry garment) for 4-6 weeks after an abdominoplasty. It's possible that your feelings of anxiety and difficulty breathing when you remove the garment, is caused from lack of support provided by the compression binder.  If you find that you're consistently having problems breathing, despite use/disuse of the garment, contact your plastic surgeon so that an appropriate evaluation can occur.


Best wishes on your continued recovery.

Hello.  The compression garment gives you that support and compression that you need after surgery.  Some patients feel anxious if they don't have the additional compression because they are afraid the tightening of the muscles won't last if they don't apply the proper support.  The fact that you are very compliant with wearing the compression garment is great habit to have as this will continue to compress the swelling you acquire after surgery and help support your abdominal muscles.  Congratulations!

Yes,many patients have said they feel this as their "security binder".  Typically I recommend my patients to wear a compression garment for 6 weeks minimum (24 hours a day unless in shower).  After that I leave it to their discretion.  The longer you wear it the more it will benefit you though.  If you just wear it during the more active part of the day like at work, school etc... then you can remove it when you get home.  Hope this helps.

It's good that you're being that compliant with the garment since you're supposed to use it for the first month postop (at least my patients). But don't worry, having it off for a slight period of time would not do you any harm.