How Long Do You Recommend Wearing the Compression Garment After Liposuction?

It is my standard practice for liposuction patients to wear compression garments 24 hours a day (except when bathing, etc.) for about the first 3 weeks, depending on the extent of liposuction and then 12 hrs per day (day or night time) for 3 additional weeks.

The reasons for the compression garment:


There are little cavities beneath your skin where the liposuction was done, and if these are not compressed they will fill with fluid.

Compression (but not too much) will reduce swelling/edema.

The compression garment may improve your final result by assisting skin to shrink.

Compression after liposuction is an important part of the recovery, and can have a positive effect on the outcome. I like the patients to wear a compression garment for at least 6 to 8 weeks after surgery. You will probably feel more comfortable with some form of compression on even after that time.  My patients often wear something for 6 months.

Recommendations vary significantly for compression garments (some surgeons do not use them at all).
The general recommendation for wearing compression garments after liposuction is around 6-8 weeks, depending on your surgeon's advice and your specific case. Here's a breakdown of typical guidelines:
First 3 weeks: Wear the compression garment 24/7 (except when bathing or showering). This helps reduce swelling and avoid fluid accumulation in the treated areas.
Next 3 weeks: After the initial 3 weeks, you may reduce the wear to 12 hours a day (either during the day or at night), although some surgeons recommend continuing to wear it around the clock for the full 6-8 weeks.
After 6-8 weeks: If desired, many patients wear the compression garment at night for comfort and continued support. The patient can also often be transitioned from a more compressive "Stage 1" type garment to a slightly less compressive "Stage 2" garment like Spanx at this 6 week post-operative period. Some may choose to wear it longer for optimal contouring and to maintain comfort as swelling continues to subside.
Krishna Vyas, MD, PhD, MHSHarvard, Hopkins, & Mayo Clinic Trained Aesthetic Plastic SurgeonNew York, New York

You will see the results immediately. However, your shape and figure will continue to improve as your swelling decreases over the next several months. I place my patients in a post-surgical compression wrap or garment. If a wrap was placed, it will be changed into a compression garment for around one week. It is important to wear this compression garment as much as possible for the first four to six weeks to reduce swelling and obtain a smooth contour. I do like my patients to wear the garment if tolerated for several months. Brandon Richland MD *Board Certified Plastic Surgeon*Orange County*Los Angeles

Hello!
Recommendations for compression differ depending on body region, modality of lipo and surgeon. Typically with surgical liposuction - SAL, PAL, UAL (vaser) - I recommend compression for at least 6 weeks during the day and removal of everything for sleep. The risk lies in garments leading to indentations in the tissue treated. Compression protects against this as well as reducing swelling.
You should always run these questions by your surgeon who will give you the most tailored advice.

 Thank you very much for this relevant question. Regarding the post operative compression treatment The available information on the Internet is confusing because every doctor has a different regime. My patients are wearing the compression garment for 24/7 during the first three weeks. Afterwards they will be wearing them during the day. Parallel they will have regular lymph drainage massage to keep the swelling down. Have a wonderful rest of the day and greetings from the beautiful island of Jamaica.

Hi, thanks for your question. In my practice. I recommend 6 weeks compressive garment usage. For first 2-3 weeks I recommend 24 wearing of compressive garment. For other 3-4 weeks ,I prefer more tight garment. Because 3 weeks after the operation ,edema   in the liposuction area decreases so generally patients needs more tight one.

Thanks for the question, I like it for 2 weeks on everyone than I let the lymphatic massage specialist on my team guide care, the extent of surgery and how well people are responding will determine the amount,etent and time needed. Everyone is different a good team will do whatever it takes to get you the best results the fastest!

The 1st two weeks i have patients wear the lipo garment , which I supply them with, both day and night. Then after that they wear it during the day and off at nite for 4 more weeks but can skip days now and then.  They are able to shower the very next day and are back to work in 2 days and back to the gym in 1 week.

Thank you for your question, I always recommend my patients to use a compression garment for at least 3 months. 

Thanks so much for your question!  For most of my patients, I recommend that they wear compression garment for 23 hours a day for the first two weeks.  Then for 12 hours a day for another four weeks or longer.  Many of my patients wear them longer because they like the support and the shaping.  Hope this helps...best of luck!
Sincerely,
Joyce C. Chen, MD, MPH, FACS