Standards for Wearing Compression Garments After Liposuction?

Compression Garments after Liposuction Surgery Guidelines

 

First off there are no "Standards"  for Vazer or traditional liposuction. (I personally do see a difference in results with Vazer vs traditional liposuction). Most important advise is to listen to your surgeon's advice as he best knows how much fat was removed, the elasticity that remains in your skin and amount of skin redundancy.

I recommend my patients wear their garments for a minimum of 3 weeks full time then for 12 hrs (day or night). if not a lot of redundant skin following liposuction to a maximum of 6 weeks. To be effective the garment needs to fit snug but not too tight as to cause pressure problems (inspect your skin if discomfort and when skin is exposed), or prevent you from sleeping. As the edema resolves it is common for patients to switch to a smaller garment that fits - A Spanx type garment would work rather than ordering one or paying more at your doctor;'s office.

Liposuction requires compression garments for three main reasons:

it restricts the amount of edema that forms and hastens its resolution by mechanical pressure
It decreases the amount of bruising
It assists the loose skin in retracting or shrinking

Every surgeon has their own guidelines regarding compression garments. It's best to listen to your surgeon since they know your particular characteristics.  I generally advise patients wear their garment 24 hours a day for three weeks, removing it only when bathing or washing it. From 3 to 6 weeks, wear your garment in the day only. It helps with easing swelling and reducing the risk of seroma. The garment should fit snugly but not to the point that you can't breathe or are feeling sore. It's best to follow your PS's advice or express your concerns directly to them so that they may respond.

There are no standard guidelines for post-operative compression garments following liposuction.  Patients who undergo liposuction can expect swelling and discomfort following this procedure.  In an effort to decrease swelling, most surgeons utilize compression garments in the post-operative period.  Although each patient should be considered individually, we generally recommend three to four weeks of compression following liposuction.
Compression minimizes swelling and decrease post-operative pain.  It helps to remodel the soft tissue by collapsing the tunnels created by the liposuction cannula during the procedure.  Compression contributes significantly to the contour improvement seen with this procedure.
Post-operative care following liposuction needs to be individualized and can be affected by variety of factors.  These may include, the amount of fat removed, the baseline skin laxity, the type of liposuction performed and the surgeons preference.  If you have concerns regarding post-operative compression garments, it’s important that you discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon.