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