Is it true that the harder/tighter the compression garment the better the results? (Photo)

I would ask your plastic surgeon about garments and the duration of wear, because each plastic surgeon will have a different protocol.   The patients who tend to have healing issues with larger volume liposuction procedures tend to be the ones who do not wear the compression garments at all, wear them very inconsistently, or do not wear them SNUGLY covering all areas of liposuction. Our office provides our lipo patients with an ADJUSTABLE compression garment manufactured by Clear Point.  The  patients like the support it provides to the back and to the abdomen. My patients typically wear the garment as much as possible for six weeks to prevent irregularities of lipo.  Should the swelling resolve faster than usual, they can tighten their garment  I have received no complaints about wearing the garment other than its itchy quality.  Wearing a soft t-shirt under it resolves this problem.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

Thanks for your question. It's best to follow your surgeons specific advice post-operatively. I  have my liposuction patients wear a compression garment (faja) covering all treated 24/7 except to shower for 4 weeks post op.  This helps ontrol swelling as the compression on your tissues helps your body to reabsorb the edema fluid that accumulates in the tissues after any procedure. This can take quite some time to happen without help from the compression garments.  It also helps improve  contour.  Compression helps to keep the tissues adherent to the underlying structures while healing, this can help prevent the wrinkled skin appearance that can happen when the tissues heal in ways we don't want them to.However, if you garments are too tight they can restrict lymphatic drainage and blood flow leading to more swelling and complications.

Surgeons have different opinions on garments. You should follow your surgeons instructions, your surgeon knows you best. It is normal to have lumps at 3 weeks, you are early in your recovery. Good luck.

We suggest patient to wear garment for at least 3-4 weeks after surgery, if possible longer. Lymphatic massage as well as ultrasound massage will also help with lumps. Lumps are unavoidable part of healing after liposuction; it is the way fat tissue responds to trauma of liposuction. They should go away in 6-8 months in particular if massage an ultrasound are applied. You can buy ultrasound massage kit online; do not spend more than $40-50. Good luck.

Each surgeon has his or her own protocol for compression after liposuction. I would follow your surgeon's instructions and discuss any concerns with him or her.Good luck!Dallas R. Buchanan, MD, FACSOwner & Board-Certified Plastic SurgeonVIVIFY plastic surgery

Hello dear!!
Thanks for the question and provided information as well.
Each doctor has their own protocol It is very important that you talk to him and follow his instructions.
I suggest my patients to get at least 10 sessions of lymphatic massages and to use a full body compression garment, 24/7 for the first 3 months, and after that, for 12 hours a day for 3 more months, to get the best results.
It is important for the compression garment to be very tight, for it to help with the swelling, after surgery.
If you have any concerns, please follow up close with your plastic surgeon.
Good luck :)

After 3-6 weeks of strict compression I use Spandex with waist compression. But each surgeon has their own recommendations of compression and timing to change it. 

personally I don't think compression garments are all that important. I do use them but our protocol is relatively short compared to other providers.  My long-term results show good fat removal with smoothing even contours using compression garments for only two weeks. We don't encourage patients to get in Fattic massage or any other post operative intervention.  We are firm believers that when the procedure is done correctly  superb results will follow given six weeks to three months.  Best, Mats Hagstrom MD