Hard to breathe with compression garment off. Is this normal? (Photo)

Question

I am 4 days post-op. I took my 1st shower yesterday. When I took the compression garmet off I find it really really hard to breathe. is this normal??

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

If you are having trouble catching your breath then you need to call your plastic surgeon immediately!  If it hurts to breath then discuss an alteration in your pain management with your plastic surgeon.

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for your picture and photograph.  Depending on the type of tummy tuck, and what was done in the operation, some people do find breathing uncomfortable.  It is uncommon, however, to have people feel short of breath, specifically after removing a binder.  If your difficulty with breathing occurred fairly rapidly, and is worsening, I would be in touch with your operative surgeon and inform him of your symptoms.

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank
you very much for your enquiry.I think
if you are having any difficulty breathing following a tummy tuck it would be
worth getting yourself checked out by your surgeon just to make sure there is
nothing wrong other than the recovery period following surgery.

Generally
your surgeon or his surgical team should be able to see you relatively soon and
I think this would be best, and I notice you have drains in place which they
will be monitoring.

I
hope your breathing settles and you are happy with the results of surgery in
the longer run.AR

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

No, this is not a complaint I hear of commonly. I would not assume that any difficulty breathing is related to the use of garments ( or not). Make sure that you communicate any potentially serious concerns like this with your plastic surgeon ( to make sure that you have people around you to help if necessary). Best wishes.

Hard to breathe with compression garment off. Is this normal? (Photo)

Answers (4)

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