Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

Question

About 4 or 5 days after surgery I did not wear my garment at nite while I was sleeping for 5 nites. It was hurting too bad so I was not getting much sleep. But I did put in on in the am and kept it all day until bed. I am wondering if it has effected any of my results not wearing it 5 nites a few days after surgery. I noticed there is cellulite on the back of my thighs, lump on the left outer thigh and lump on the inner thigh. Also is that still just part of the swelling?

Richard G. Schwartz, MD · Answer

Generally speaking, virtually all plastic surgeons recommend wearing compression garments  for a number of weeks after liposuction.  The purpose is to control swelling, help prevent pockets of fluid from developing in the space where fat was removed, and even help the skin redrape as smoothly as possible over the newly reduced fatty layer.  However, there is wide variation in the suggested time for wearing compression.  I usually suggest 3 weeks, but some doctors may suggest a longer or shorter duration.  Also, the individual patient's condition and the extent of the surgery, such as how much fat was removed, all need to be considered.  Five days after surgery seems a little early to stop wearing the garment, and if it is so tight as to cause pain, then perhaps you need a slightly larger size.  Also, 1-2 weeks after surgery is still early enough that having some slight lumpiness is common.  You might have small areas of fluid that need to resorb.  I would suggest wearing the garment and also consider discussing a gentle circular massage of the treated areas with your surgeon.  As for any cellulite appearance,  liposuction does not correct cellulite; it only reduces the bulk in a given area.  The dimpling of cellulite will often remain following liposuction.

William T. Stoeckel, MD · Answer

Hard to know for certain if you ended up affecting your end results. Most likely, your compression garment routine will not have a long term affect on your results. I think that there is some scant evidence that it can limit the amount of swelling and hasten your recovery time. But I still have not seen any evidence that compression garments actually affect the end result. But this question could be debated and I certainly could be proven wrong.

Mark E. Mason, MD · Answer

I recommend that patients wear the compression garment continuously for at least the first week post op. It can affect swelling in different places, and most times, patients share that they like wearing the garment because it feels good to keep the swelling down. It sounds like you do have swelling which will not entirely go away for several weeks. The compression garment helps to reduce the time of recovery by reducing the swelling. In addition, make sure you are getting plenty of water (not soda or alcoholic beverages) and rest since your body is still healing. If your compression garment is not comfortable, ask your surgeon for a different size. It should be comfortably snug (without leaving deep indentations in your skin). I hope this helps and good luck with your recovery!

Marwan R. Khalifeh, MD · Answer

While the downtime for Liposuction can vary from patient to patient, the initial healing period should
just be a couple of days.

Since there are no hard
and fast rules for the surgery and each patient reacts differently, what you
are experiencing may be totally normal. You can help the swelling by eating a
low salt diet, drinking a lot of water and keeping your compression garment on
as much as possible for at least two weeks after surgery. You should definitely
follow up with your doctor about any concerns.

Garrett Jones, DO · Answer

Wearing your compression garments as recommended by your surgeon helps support healing and reduce swelling after liposuction. Neglecting to wear it at night may impact results by potentially allowing increased swelling. Follow your surgeon’s advice for optimal recovery.

Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

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Answer: Liposuction healing

Answer: Liposuction healing

Answer: Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

Answer: Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

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Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

Answers (8)

Answer: Liposuction healing

Answer: Liposuction healing

Answer: Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

Answer: Will not wearing your compression garment at night affect my Liposuction results of inner and outer thighs?

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.