Liposuction Compression Garments

Liposuction is a surgery, which removes the excess fatty tissues from the body by means of a suction tube. It belongs to the category of plastic surgery. Plastic surgeons advise their patients to wear elastic compression garments post-surgery, to apply some pressure on the treated area.

There are various ways of applying pressure to the operated area, such as elastic bandaging, elastic tapes, wraps, etc. However, compression garments are the most convenient and trusted ones. These are user-friendly garments, specially designed to provide maximum comfort to the patient.

They are made up of fabrics like Lycra, Nylon, Spandex, or Tactel. Usually, they are crotchless, which helps the patient to urinate and defecate without removing the garment.

After the removal of excessive fat from the body, the skin becomes loose. These elastic compression garments are specially designed to minimize the recovery time, and to increase the comfort level of the patient.

They support the treated area by holding the loose skin tightly against the body. The skin tightens without sagging. The garments accelerate the recovery by improving blood circulation, minimizing swelling, and flushing the body out of potentially harmful fluids.

During recovery, accumulated fluids from the body flow in backward direction. This stops supply of fresh oxygen and nutrients to the damaged areas, which causes slow recovery, and some cells to die in some rare and severe cases. Body fluids are forced back towards the deeper tissues by the compression garments, which minimizes the swelling.

The time period for which the patient is advised to wear these garments depends upon the type of surgery and the aftercare methods used. Usually, the patient has to wear them for the first two weeks at stage one, and 2 to 8 weeks at stage two.

For incisions, which are closed with stitches, the period is 2 to 6 weeks. Sometimes, stitches in the skin incisions cause swelling beneath the skin, bruising, and tenderness for a longer period; and hence, require prolonged use of elastic compression garments.

In case of open drainage, the patient is advised to wear them for 3 to 6 days on an average. Even if the drainage has stopped, the garment has to be kept on the body for extra 24 hours.

These garments are used to support various parts of the body.

• Full body garments contain garments for the mid and lower part of the body. They are designed in such a way, that they cover the back and stomach up to the under breast area. Various other clothing items for the back, wings, flanks, knees, hips, calves, and thighs are also available.

• Abdominal garments, which are also known as abdominal binders are usually worn after the abdominal liposuction. It is also called tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.

• Facial compression garments are used after the neck lift and face lift surgery. They cover the area around the face, chin, and lower face. Some of them are also designed to support the neck area.

• Arm and shoulder garments are worn after brachioplasty, i.e., when the arms and shoulders are operated upon. It includes arms, axilla (armpits), forearms, biceps, shoulders, and upper back. The garments are designed to support these body parts. Some of them also cover the chest.

• There are garments to support men's genital area as well. They are called scrotum support garments. They help to minimize the swelling that can spread and descend downward to the genital area, due to gravity.

Nowadays, a variety of comfortable, well-fitting, and high quality garments are available. However, excessive use of these medical outfits can result in the malfunctioning of the lymphatic capillaries, which absorb residual tumescent fluid and inflammatory exudate from the tissues of the treated area.

So, be sure to use them only for the stipulated period or as per the doctor's advice.

Disclaimer: This post is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.