There are different garments made for different stages of your recovery. Immediately after tummy tuck, it is nearly impossible to put on a compression garment that does not have zippers or hook & eye closures or a wrap that does not have Velcro (These are known as first stage compression garments).
It takes a couple weeks for enough swelling to go down and for the patient to be comfortable enough to wear a zipperless compression garment (These are known as second stage garments). These zipperless garments still have the surgery-specific extras built into them, such as an open crotch design.
Then there are third stage compression garments after tummy tuck. These compression garments after tummy tuck are designed to be used long term on a regular basis and look more like undergarments or sometimes like normal athletic wear. For instance, the garments I recommend look like camisoles and leggings but have 15-20 mmHg compression when sized properly. You should continue to wear these garments as long as you have tummy tuck swelling, which is typically 4-6 weeks.
Then, you can gradually wear them less and less until you no longer need the support. Spanx also fall under this category. Unfortunately, their compression is not necessarily even for all body types, as patients are so quick to tell me. When compression is uneven, the garment can cause creases, bulges and folds to occur.
Most patients find it more comfortable to continue wearing compression garments when they are working out. Studies have shown that you are less likely to have an injury, suffer from fatigue, and can increase your efficiency when using compression garments during strenuous activities. In the past 2 years, you may have noticed more athletes, especially soccer and basketball professionals, wearing them for these benefits. There is no reason why you should not take care of yourself like athletes do. You have invested a great deal of time and money into your surgery and you deserve the best tummy tuck results. (Gabriel Chiu, DO, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)
Every surgeon may have a different protocol for wearing compression garments. So I would follow your surgeons advice. My current protocol is to wear a garment for the first 3 weeks 24/7 for comfort and support. Many patients like it for these very reasons. I also like it as it serves as a reminder not to do too much too soon. After that I have them wear them only 8 hours a day. Additionally, I start lymphatic massages in the second week after the drains are removed. This will reduce swelling and expedite the healing process. For scars, I have a very strict protocol which includes the use of the Palomar Icon laser for scar reduction. (Brian Joseph, MD, Orlando Plastic Surgeon)
How long should you wear compression garment after a tummy tuck?
Compression garments after tummy tuck have historically been employed to reduce the amount of swelling and/or decreasing the incidence of significant seromas. They also provide support and comfort when properly fitted and are not overly tight. I usually recommend wearing them until the swelling is visibly gone. This time varies from patient to patient according to age, health and compliance. (Gary M. Horndeski, MD, Texas Plastic Surgeon)
I prefer that my tummy tuck patients wear their garments for at least one month following surgery. Most of the patients say that it feels good to be supported by the garment and they prefer to wear it even longer. I believe the garment is most helpful for the first two weeks. (David Stoker, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)
Every surgeon seems to have their own recipe for post-operative garments. Personally, I like patients to wear the binder for 1 week until i see them at follow up.
At that point, some of the initial swelling has subsided and I switch them into surgical garment that is pre-measured and patient specific. I have patients wear the garment for an additional 5 weeks.
This is especially important after a rectus muscle repair as it helps to support the surgical healing process. It also expedites the resolution of swelling and theoretically decreases the chances of developing a seroma. (Kunaal Jindal, MD, Toronto Plastic Surgeon)
How long to wear compression garments after tummy tuck?
Compression helps tremendously to decrease swelling and helps with healing, 6 weeks minimum, but the longer you wear it the better. (Patricia Yugueros, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)
Compression garments after tummy tuck are recommended when liposuction is involved
In my view, binders are quite controversial now. The only reason to use a binder after an abdominoplasty is to benefit the liposuction you do at the time of the abdominoplasty. The binder itself, you could argue, is actually not helping the blood supply to the abdominal flap. So we don’t like a binder to be applied very tightly within the first 3 to 5 days depending on the blood supply to that flap.
Once we are confident about the blood supply, we can use the binder a little more aggressively because it assists with the liposuction results.If you have done a tummy tuck without liposuction, there is no reason in the world to use a binder. Some patients may like to use one for comfort, but without liposuction, a binder is not necessary.
For those who do have liposuction during their tummy tuck, the typical recommendation is wearing a binder for three weeks. (Glynn Bolitho, PhD, MD, FACS, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)
Binders are compression bands or garments that compress the skin after a tummy tuck. They prevent excess swelling in the skin and also compress the space where fluid can accumulate after surgery (Seroma after tummy tuck). They also help maintain the muscle tone by preventing extra pressure on the suture line repair of the diastasis until scar tissue is strong enough. Most women wear binders from 4-6 weeks and state it feels more comfortable to have it on than not. Once there is minimal swelling women can switch to light compression wear like Spanx. (Christopher J. Kovanda, MD, Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon)
The reasons for wearing a compression garment or corset after a tummy tuck are to control swelling and to prevent the muscle repair from stretching or tearing. When a full tummy tuck is done the skin of the front of the abdomen is elevated and pulled downwards. When the abdominal skin is elevated the natural drainage passages of the abdomen called the lymphatics are temporarily disrupted. These lymphatics are necessary to drain the fluid from the abdominal tissues.
If you don’t wear compression over the abdominal skin, fluid or edema will collect in the abdominal skin leading to an un-natural bulge or fullness in the tissues above the incision. It takes up to three months for the lymphatics to re-establish themselves so I recommend wearing a corset under your clothing for that period of time. The second major reason is with most abdominoplasty the muscle has been repaired with sutures. The tighter the repair of the muscle the flatter the stomach. It takes time for your body to form enough internal scars around the muscle repair for the repair to be secure. If you don’t wear a compression garment moving and twisting the body will eventually stretch and tear the repair thus the abdomen will not be as flat as we would like it to be. For these two reasons I recommend a compression corset after abdominoplasty and since implementing this recommendation my patients maintain much better results after abdominoplasty. (Benjamin Chu, MD, FACS, Honolulu Plastic Surgeon)