How important it is to wear compression garment after liposuction? 4 days post-op.

Question

4 days after liposuction. I'm bruised and sensitive to even slight touch. I wonder if wearing the compression garment is bad for me because it is putting more pressure on already painful bruises, also it left lines of bruises (or made my existing bruises aligned with the seams from the compression garments). I don't think the garment is too tight for me as I'm a size XS/S and the garment is a size L. How important it is to wear compression garment after liposuction and could it be making it worse?

Emmanuel De La Cruz, MD · Answer

Hello angelinelovelace, 
It’s a pleasure to answer your questions! Swelling, bruising and pain during the first 3-7 days after liposuction are significant, and most patients will have difficulties moving around, in general. However, your surgeon will prescribed analgesics to handle any pain that might be involved and help you feel much more comfortable. After the first week, you will notice that the swelling, soreness, and pain will begin to fade away. Be patient and you will see significant improvement in the way your body feels and looks in the following 2-4 weeks. Plastic surgeons have different post-operative protocols, customized for every patient to achieve the best results. I usually recommend my patients wearing specialized compression garments to reduce swelling and help their skin contract smoothly to their new body’s contours. Since ill-fitting garments can lead to contour irregularities, I advise them about the correct method of using the garments, to limit folds and creases in them, and regularly check if they are worn properly. The right garment for you would be the one that provides proper support for the skin and offers the maximum possible comfort since you’ll be required to wear them all day (except for showering), for approximately 6 months. It’s always best to discuss with your plastic surgeon about the type of garment and size that fits best your specific needs. Kind regards! Dr. De La Cruz.

Alex Campbell, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Every surgeon will have his/her own preferences as to recovery for specific procedures. 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.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I recommend following up with your Doctor about their protocol regarding compression. I have my patients wear compression for 3-6 weeks straight then overnight for 3-6 months after their procedure. For liposuction after care, I recommend adding hyperbaric oxygen and lymphatic massage along with your compression to help decrease swelling. To improve your final results, I also recommend adding vanquish for further fat removal, exilis/venus legacy for skin tightening, cellutone/z wave to make the skin smooth, remove scar tissue, and improve the skin’s appearance. Best, Dr. Emer

Darren Smith, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi - thank you for your question. I generally only require my liposuction patients to wear compression garments for 48 hours following liposuction. However, you should follow your surgeon's advice regarding how long you should wear your garment as every case is different.

Stephen T. Greenberg, MD, FACS · Answer

Hi there and thanks for your question!  I recommend wearing compression from the day of surgery to about 4-6 weeks after surgery.  Compression can help with swelling and patients tend to feel more comfortable when being compressed.  If you are truly an xs/s then a size large garment is not going to do much for your recovery.  Also, I always suggest wearing a garment that is seamless to prevent any indentations or marks on your belly.  I would see your plastic surgeon for his/her post-op protocol. Best of luck!

How important it is to wear compression garment after liposuction? 4 days post-op.

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How important it is to wear compression garment after liposuction? 4 days post-op.

Answers (7)

Answer: Garment after liposuction

Answer: Garment after liposuction

Answer: Compression after liposuction

Answer: Compression after liposuction

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Everything you need to know about Liposuction

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