Are compression garments following a lower body lift recommended?

After a 360 lower body lift, I always use compression garments. The body's natural reaction to any surgery is to swell. The body swells because it pumps more blood to the operative site. Pumping more blood helps to deliver oxygen, nutrients, and essentials of tissue healing to a wound site.  In addition, fluid leaks from the capillaries and causes swelling or edema.The compression garment helps to minimize swelling or edema.  Too much swelling can lead to wound breakdown and disruption. In addition, though rare, chronic edema can lead to permanent problems like lymphedema.Perhaps your plastic surgeon is concerned about decreased blood flow with a compression garment after a lower body lift. This is not an unreasonable concern. However, you just need to be sure the compression garment is not too tight. For the past 15 years, this has not been a problem in my massive weight loss plastic surgery practice.  Typically, after a 360 over bodylift, I have my patients wear their compression garments for 6 to 8 weeks.

I definitely recommend the use of compression garments post-operatively for our lower body lift patients. Compression garments help reduce swelling, prevent fluid collection and speed up the healing process. We typically order 2 or 3 garments for patients so they can alternate while one is in the wash. Your plastic surgeon should be able to measure & order these garments for you prior to surgery. Great question!

Compression garments after a lower body lift will help decrease swelling and get you to your final results faster. Best of luck.

Compression garments are important because they help not only to manage your postoperative swelling, they also help prevent fluid collections/seromas in some cases.  Please talk to your plastic surgeon about his/her recommendations for compressive therapy.