Compression garment is uncomfortably tight. What should I do?

Thank you for your question. I recommend contacting your plastic surgeon about seeing you in person to obtain a different compression garment. There are many brands and styles, or even going up a size may be more comfortable for you. Compression garments are an important part of your recovering to help reducing bruising and swelling and should feel snug against your body, but at no time should you feel pain. Good luck!

Compression garments are meant to fit tightly, but not uncomfortably. I would advise visiting your surgeon for a follow-up and letting them know that your garment is uncomfortable so that they can change it for a bigger size if needed. Sometimes the swelling post procedure makes the garment tighter and two garments of different sizes are needed. One trick we do in our office is simply make a few snips in the garment if there are particular pressure points to make it more comfortable for the patient.

The main purpose of a compressive garment after liposuction is providing comfort. If yours is too tight it should be refitted

Please have your physician assess the area, you may need a different compression or a better one.  It is normal to have pain and swelling after surgery.  Try lymphatic massage and hyperbaric oxygen to speed up the improvement.  Best, Dr. Emer.

At times when the garment is sized it may look like it fits but with the swelling they sometimes become too tight.  If it starts cutting into you then you definitely have a problem.I would recommend calling your doctors office and see what they would recommend.  They may want you to come into the office to re-size or perhaps put some cuts in the band to help.Good luck.

Compression garments are meant to control the swelling and improve the Contour after surgery however if they are causing pain and you feel that they are digging into your skin they can cause more harm than good. I would see your surgeon as soon as possible and adjust the compression garment. 

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your recent liposuction surgery. While the compression garment should provide support, it should not be too tight that it is painful or 'cuts into' you. I would suggest loosening your garments until you can speak to your plastic surgeon. Schedule a follow up with your surgeon as soon as possible for an in-person examination and specific post - operative instructions. Hope this helps and good luck with your recovery.

A compression garment should fit snug. As you swell, a snug compression garment may no longer be comfortable and may in fact be too tight. Notify your plastic surgeon to see what they recommend. They may switch you into a larger garment or change the dressing regimen all together. Depending on the brand and type of garment, cutting the garment may result in the tear running through the garment and ruining its ability to compress. 

Hi and thanks for your question. Compression garment is meant to be tight but comfortable or it´s going to leave marks and you are going to get tired of it, I recommend you change it for a bigger size. Talk to your plastic surgeon and let him know about this.Best wishes.Dr. Milla

I have adjusted compression garments by making small incisions with scissors.I cannot recommend that you do this but rather that you check with your plastic surgeon.They should feel nice and snug but not painful or severely comfortable.look up the website for the manufacture of your compression garment and check their sizing chart.That will tell you if your plastic surgeon ordered the appropriate size garment for you.Sometimes patients need to be given a second garment if the first one was not sized appropriately.The garments are not cheap so plastic surgeons may be reluctant to keep handing them out.My guess is your surgery may not have been cheap either so ask your plastic surgeon to get you one that fits well if the one you have is not sized correctly.Best,Mats Hagstrom M.D.