Tummy Tuck, Lipo to flanks, hernia repair; compression garment or belly binder? (photos)

I actually recommend against binders for a full month.  There is no training of the abdomen after tummy tuck necessary.  It provides absolutely no benefit in the early postoperative period, and can actually cause the wound to open up.  If
the binder is tight enough , it will collapse the veins. If the veins are
collapsed, then there is no outflow. If there is no outflow, there can
be no inflow. No inflow from the arteries means no oxygen. No
oxygen means no healing. No healing means wound dehiscence (opening) and
failure.

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 so I can confirm that it fits well.Most important advice is to listen to your surgeon, as he or she knows how much fat was removed, the elasticity that remains in your skin, and amount of skin redundancy.I recommend that my patients wear their garments for a minimum of three weeks full timethen for twelve hours at a time (day or night). If there is not a lot of redundant skin, this continues to a maximum of six weeks.To be effective, the garment needs to fit snugly—but not too tight as that can make it difficult to sleep or cause pressure problems (inspect your skin when it is exposed if you are uncomfortable). As the edema resolves it is common for patients to switch to a smaller garment that fits. A Spanx-type garment would work fine, rather than ordering one or paying more at your doctor’s office.#compressiongarment#tummytuck

Every plastic surgeon has his or her own post op protocol. Personally, I like using compression garments that provide a snug fit for my patients in the post op period because this helps reduce swelling and gives most patients the feeling of "support". Most patients actually wear it for much longer than I require them to because they love the feel of it. Remember, swelling after a tummy tuck can take 6 months to a year to fully resolve. However, some of my colleagues like binders so my advice to you is to follow YOUR operating surgeon's recommendations to get the best possible results. Good luck!

Applying excessive pressure after surgery can lead to massive tissue necrosis.The skin on your abdomen will be numb after surgery. It is possible to have too much pressure on the skin, which could compromise blood flow and eventually cause some of the skin to die.This can happen with patients not being aware of it because of the numbness and the underlying pain from the surgery.In my practice, I also make an explicit point of not using cold packs or heat of any type after surgery.Your surgeon can help you through the process.Ask him or her and follow their instructions, and you should be fine.Best of luck,Mats Hagstrom, M.D.

Many plastic surgery practices, including our own, utilize compression garments following tummy tuck and/or liposuction surgery. The compression can help reduce swelling and bleeding, and help take tension off of the muscle repair. In most cases, a patient will find that it makes them feel more comfortable and secure. I think your question may be one of semantics. As long as the garment provides moderate and even support, it may not matter if it is a binder or a formal garment. Just be careful not to make the binder too tight.