Is it really necessary to wear a compression garment after lipo? How would it affect the results if I don't use it?

Question

23 y.o. I got whole body lipo 10 days ago. Im doing lymphatic massages. For compression garment, I wore the one from surgery for about 5 days but was so uncomfortable I decided to buy a colombian compression garment. My pubic area is so swollen that this garment digs in badly causing major discomfort. My doctor said I could wear spanx since a real tight one is not needed since shape is given in the OR not by a garment. everyone says you HAVE to wear it.

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Compression Garments after Liposuction Surgery Guidelines - Is Spanx a reasonable product:	My personal opinion is that the first garment should be fitted for you in the office prior to surgery and applied in the operating room. Often it will become loose as the edema is mobilized and then it will need to be replaced. Spanx is a reasonable compression  garment if it gives enough support and is the right size. I have my patents bring them in and confirm that it fits well.	Most important advise is to listen to your surgeon's advice as he best knows how much fat was removed, the elasticity that remains in your skin and amount of skin redundancy.	I recommend my patients wear their garments for a minimum of 3 weeks full time then for 12 hrs (day or night). if not a lot of redundant skin following liposuction to a maximum of 6 weeks. To be effective the garment needs to fit snug but not too tight as to cause pressure problems (inspect your skin if discomfort and when skin is exposed), or prevent you from sleeping. As the edema resolves it is common for patients to switch to a smaller garment that fits - A Spanx type garment would work rather than ordering one or paying more at your doctor;'s office.	Liposuction requires compression garments for three main reasons:	it restricts the amount of edema that forms and hastens its resolution by mechanical pressure	It decreases the amount of bruising	It assists the loose skin in retracting or shrinking#spanxafterlipo

David L. Kaufman, MD FACS · Answer

You’ll
find that the majority of plastic surgeons do recommend wearing a compression
garment full-time after getting liposuction. Not only can this help to reduce
fluid accumulation that leads to swelling, but should also encourage your skin
to conform to your slimmer new contours. Many patients also find that they feel
more supported and comfortable with the pressure offered by the garment.
However, if your surgeon feels that a garment is unnecessary or that wearing
Spanx is acceptable in combination with lymphatic massage, then that’s the
advice that you should follow.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

If you do not use compression after liposuction you put your body at risk for increased swelling, seroma formation, and irregularities, that will unlikely give you the results you are anticipating.  Follow your physicians recommendations.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Christopher Khorsandi, MD · Answer

Some form of compression is usually recommended to help in recovery.  If you were getting too much pubic edema then you need to try a different garment.  Massage helps, but going without compression for large volume liposuction can lead to seromas and persistent edema.

Aisha McKnight Baron, MD · Answer

Wearing a compression garment after liposuction will help speed the resolution of swelling and oftentimes help with postoperative discomfort. If your garment is too uncomfortable, then consult with your surgeon to see if you can have another one ordered. You don't want to wear a garment that is so tight as to cause a wound or restrict blood flow

Dallas Buchanan, MD · Answer

Many plastic surgeons will recommend that you wear a compression garment after liposuction for around three weeks (give or take). This helps to reduce swelling, prevent the formation of fluid collections or seromas, and prevent bruising. Most surgeons who believe in this will usually provide you with a specialized compression garment made specifically for this. If your surgeon provided this to you, I would suggest you wear it and pad the areas that are uncomfortable until you are able to discuss it with them in detail.

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear SweetsunshineYou should always follow you surgeons instruction. The use of compression garments is a topic of debate for many surgeons. In my experience, they offer decreased swelling and pain management in the early post op period. If you don't wear them, in my opinion, your final outcome will look the same. You might take longer to get there. If you are wearing garment and you are getting skin breakdown because of swelling, then you should remove garment and go see your surgeon for instructions.

Wendell Perry, MD · Answer

When you do a liposuction you take a solid core it out and make it into a Swiss cheese or a sponge. All those holes where you remove the fat cells is the space that fills with water and this is the swelling. In order to heal you must collapse and close all those holes. When the holes are closed that's when the swelling goes away. If you let the fluid stay in the holes the swelling will never go away. Wearing a garment helps collapse those holes and makes a swelling go away. Massage also helps is willing to go away. If you leave the fluid there long enough it will scar and you will not have as good a result as you possibly could have. I use a garment without any zippers or clips like the spanks but I asked my patients to work for one month 24 hours a day. I always try to get the fluid out of my patients as quickly as possible and I think this helps you get a better result.

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

You need to be seen by your surgeon, dr S. only follow his advise. My my practice I would have you remove all garments until the pubic edema subsided....

Is it really necessary to wear a compression garment after lipo? How would it affect the results if I don't use it?

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