How long should I wear a compression garment after tummy tuck/lipo? How will I know it's okay to stop wearing it?

While I can't speak for your surgeon, I personally have my tummy tuck patients wear the garment 24/7 except to shower for 3 weeks post op followed by another 3 weeks during the day only for 3 main reasons:





1.) Controlling swelling: the compression on your tissues helps your body to reabsorb the edema fluid that accumulates in the tissues after any procedure. This can take quite some time to happen without help from the compression garments







2.) Improving contour: the compression helps to keep the tissues adherent to the underlying structures while healing, this can help prevent the wrinkled skin appearance that can happen when the tissues heal in ways we don't want them to.







3.) Improving scarring: pressure has been shown to improve the appearance of scars. A tummy tuck scar is quite long and right on the front of your body so anything that can help make it flatter, softer and less visible is to your advantage.







Hope that helps!

Thank you for your question. Typically your plastic surgeon will ask you to wear a compression garment for approximately 4 weeks post-op to reduce swelling. Your board certified plastic surgeon should give you clear instructions on post-op care so I would continue to follow those and if he/she has not made them clear be sure to follow up with a call to ensure you have the best recovery. Hope this helps,Dr. Newall 

Thank you for your question.  It is always best to consult with your operating surgeon first regarding any questions or concerns you may have related to your personal recovery.  That being said, we typically advise our patients to wear their compression garments for at least 6 weeks after surgery.With kind regards,Lane F. Smith, M.D., F.A.A.C.S., F.A.O.H.N.S., F.A.B.F.P.R.S.Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon

We tell our patients to wear a compression binder for 4-6 weeks. This is something you should discuss with your surgeon as everyone has a specific post op routine. The longer you can wear it the better especially for the areas of liposuction because the swelling can take a long time to resolve.

Hello and thank-you for your question.I would suggest contacting your treating surgeon for guidance in how long you should wear your garment.  I generally advise my patients to wear the garment for 6 weeks following a tummy-tuck and liposuction.  I advise my patients that once they stop wearing the garment, if there tummy is swollen or does not look as good that they should wear the garment at least part time for an additional two weeks.I hope that this helps,Andrew Lyos MD, FACS

You should check with your surgeon.I have my patients wear their compression garment for 4 to 6 weeks as it help control swelling. Good luck.

You should definitely ask your surgeon about their compression protocol. Most surgeons have their patients wear some kind of compression for at least one month. This usually means that initially the patient wears an abdominal binder and after a week or two they can choose to switch to an elastic compression garment typically known as a second stage garment. There are many different types of these out there. They are quite comfortable and can easily be hidden under clothing. Good luck!

Most patients will be placed in an abdominal binder, which they will wear the first week. There is usually a fair amount of swelling and the binder should be opened several times a day so that there are no pressure points. After the first 7 to 10 days the patient is placed in an elastic garment for compression over the next six weeks. Full activity levels can usually be resumed at about six weeks.

I typically recommend the use of a compression garment for 3 weeks full time and 3 weeks part-time (day or night depending on patient preference) totaling 6 weeks.  As a rule of thumb, more is better.  The longer you can tolerate the garment, the better. Good luck!

Thank you for the question.

This is a question best answered by your operating plastic surgeon.  He/she is ultimately responsible for the outcome of your surgery. In general, I have my patients wear the compression garment for 3-4 weeks and then transition into a Spanx for support.  Best wishes for a result you will be pleased with.