Thank you for your question. I prefer compression garments postoperatively but each plastic surgeon has his/her own preferences. Be sure your plastic surgeon addresses all your concerns and discusses the surgery details including the risks and benefits of the procedure, recovery time, and post-operative course, including the abdominal board or garments per his/her choosing. When I perform an abdominoplasty, the necessary skin and fat is removed, the abdominal muscles are tightened, a small umbilical incision is made that is not externally visible, and a short, low waistline incision is designed to be easily hidden by your underwear or bikini. Please view plenty of before-and-after pictures in real women (and not just computer-generated images) who have a similar abdominal appearance to yours, and preferably at different time frames (3 weeks out, 3 months out, etc) to more accurately predict your own surgical outcome. And lastly, I think the most important component of the consultation is to establish a good connection with your plastic surgeon. If you don’t feel you have a good connection with your plastic surgeon after your consultation, he/she may not be the best surgeon for you. Good luck. Mark K Markarian, MD, MSPH Harvard-trained Aesthetic Plastic Surgeon