Girdle Panty Vs. Binding for Tummy Tuck Recovery

I prefer a binder type dressing while the drains are in place and then switch to a panty like garment after removal of the drain.

I am a firm believer in postoperative compression following the tummy tuck procedure. The compression garment must however be functional . It should not be painful or restrictive. It should be snug and form fitting.


The length of time one should wear a compression garment after surgery varies. Six weeks is a reference however this number is arbitrary.




I like to use this analogy.... You can wipe off your kitchen countertop with a wet sponge and place it next to the sink and leave it alone. It will dry eventually, however if you take that wet sponge and push on it , or compress it, that wet sponge  will dry much faster.




Its hard to think of your abdominal skin as a wet sponge, however after surgery the inflammation and the swelling of the tissues postoperatively can be compared to that wet sponge.




It is hard to say how much compression is necessary and for how long should it be used.  I definitely find it to be useful in my patients

Many years ago, as a young surgeon in the early 80's, I was educated by a wise older surgeon that
- 25% of the things we do in Medicine are right and based on science,
-  25% are wrong because they are based on false or incomplete science and
- 50% of what we do in Medicine is bogus and based on fetish, superstition and personal preference.

I have a busy Tummy Tuck practice and have heard hundreds of women complaining about the compression garment. Just as you have.

While the garment in theory increases the adherence of the skin to the underlying muscle, it also made breathing hard (resulting in fevers and pneumonias), put pressure on the skin (and probably slowed the flow of blood in it maybe causing wound healing issues), may slow blood flow through the legs potentially causing leg swelling and maybe a higher rate of blood clots, was uncomfortable and hot as well as expensive. I therefore stopped using it in my Tummy Tuck cases a few years ago.

The result - happier patients. No increase in drainage. Better overall results and satisfaction.

speak to your surgeon before doing anything. I would NOT wear any pressure garment which could restrict blood flow under the belly button. That would be worse than your current garment.