Thank you for your question! Post-op garments are very important after liposuction to help with swelling and circulation. Following lower leg liposuction, you may be in a waist to ankle compression garment. This is similar to a pair of leggings and may or may not have stirrups. Or, you could be in a compression stocking. These are usually above the knee compression socks. The garment choice is whichever is the best fit for your body shape and can be discussed with your board-certified plastic surgeon.
Liposuctions of the knees, calves and ankles cause a lot of swelling in the feet and ankles afterwards so to help prevent this we use support hose such as what patients wear when they get sclerotherapy for varicose or spider veins. It covers from your toes up to the mid thighs and is comfortable and keeps the feet swelling to a minimum. Use about 20 mm Hg compression. Most pharmacies carry these if your doc doesn't. Sincerely, David Hansen,MD