As a plastic surgery specialist, I help my patients achieve their best possible results after surgery. One of the most important pieces of advice I give them is to invest in the right garments—and that includes fajas after tummy tuck and lipo.
Fajas are compression garments, which means they’re designed to compress your skin in order to reduce swelling and provide support for your new body contours. They’re made out of Lycra or Spandex and come in different styles and sizes, depending on your specific needs after surgery.
The best faja for you depends on what kind of procedure you had and what kind of results you’re looking for. If you have liposuction alone or with lipo combined with another procedure like a tummy tuck, then there are specific kinds of fajas that will be best suited for your case. If you had abdominoplasty alone (or combined with liposuction), then there are other types of fajas that would work well too. And if you had a combination of both procedures (tummy tuck followed by lipo), then there are even more options!
You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing the best and updated information on Best faja after tummy tuck and lipo , best faja for tummy tuck and lipo. Read on to learn more. We at cosmeticsurgerytips have all the information that you need about best compression garment for tummy tuck. Read on to learn more.
Best faja after tummy tuck and lipo
If you’re planning to have cosmetic surgery, you’re probably wondering why do I need to wear a compression garment? What type of girdle? And how to use it during recovery?
Here is some explanation based on the most common questions. Keep reading below!
Compression garment after surgery, how long to wear it?
After procedures, such as liposuction or abdominoplasty, it´s necessary to use a postsurgical girdle daily and constantly (24 hours and 7 days of the week), at least for two months.
Compression garments are available for nearly every part of the body and come in several styles and sizes. Wearing shapewear has many advantages like helping you deflect, avoiding fluid retention, improving circulation, and allowing you to attach the loose skin to the muscle.
As the weeks go by and the swelling goes down, it will also decrease the use of the girdle, but remember that it is your surgeon who must determine the time and frequency you must take to ensure the best results.
Why shapewear is important for post surgery recovery?
After surgery, you must take it slow for a time to allow the body to recover. The first reason why a girdle should be used after abdominal surgery is for support. Using post-surgical shapewear after liposuction, abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck is necessary because the girdle compresses enough to decrease that dead space that is created after these types of procedures. If that space is not sealed it can be filled with fluid and create a cavity.
The compression provided by the faja is fundamental, not only because of the advantages mentioned above for the treated areas but also to provide general support to the body. You are going to feel more comfortable and safe during that sensitive period.
Pro tip:
Compression garments are an indispensable part of postoperative care. The most important thing when choosing the style of your shapewear is the several levels of hooks you can have. It makes the necessary compression in the treated area, and you can adjust it as you lose measurements.
Below we give you some recommendations of ideal references for post-surgical use. Remember to be attentive to the levels of coverage, design of strips, and opening in the crotch, to choose the best one for you.
Click on the image to see all the girdle details
Click on the image to see all the girdle details
Click on the image to see all the girdle details
What happens if you do not wear shapewear after surgery?
If you do not use a girdle after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, the inflammation process can increase, there may be deformity, fluid accumulation in unwanted areas, and scarring with late fibrosis.
Not wearing a girdle post-surgery shapewear during this initial recovery time is especially damaging because it can cause unwanted modifications to the silhouette.
How to choose a girdle after surgery?
Your doctor should tell you the model and the measurements you should take to choose your size. Generally, the measurements you need to choose the correct post-surgical girdle are those of the waist and hips.
One of the main advantages of shapewear with several hooks levels is that they facilitate the transition between sizes. Since they give you options and adapt to your silhouette as you decrease measurements.
The material of the girdle is also important because its compression power depends on it.
Post-surgery girdles are elaborate with Powernet, a material that mixes polyamide and elastane. It is a breathable fabric that helps to avoid humidity, helping to prevent bacteria or infections from being generated.
Best faja for tummy tuck and lipo
If you plan to have a Brazilian butt lift (BBL) or liposuction done, you have likely heard the term “faja” floating around throughout your plastic surgery research. A faja is a garment used for postoperative wear by recovering BBL and liposuction patients to keep swelling to a minimum and ensure that the skin tightens properly.
During your recovery period, your fajas (Stage 1 and Stage 2) will become your best friends, and an essential part to you healing properly and getting to enjoy your long-awaited results. Below we go over answers to all your faja questions – how you are sized, when to wear and wash it, and more:
Stage 1 Faja
- What is a Stage 1 Faja?
The Stage 1 faja is the faja you will be wearing immediately when you wake up from your procedure, and it is part of the BBL package you can purchase before or during your pre-op appointment. It is low compression, meaning it will fit loosely on your body, not tight. It is NOT meant to fit like shapewear or a waist trainer. In addition to your Stage 1 faja, the BBL package comes with lipo foams and an abdominal board. Lipo foams are rectangular pieces of foam inserted between your garment and the areas where fat was suctioned. The lipo foams give a uniform smooth compression over the suctioned area. An abdominal board is a board that helps smooth out and flatten the tummy area after surgery and goes between your garment and your abdominal area. - When Will I be Sized for my Stage 1 Faja?
Before you have your new faja in your hands, you must be sized to determine the right fit for your unique body type. This will happen during your pre-op appointment, which usually falls on the day before your surgery except on Mondays. A trained pre-op specialist will measure your body, keeping in mind how it will transform after your procedure is done. Fajas come in size “small” (S) to “4 extra-large” (4 XL). Keep in mind that you will likely not be fit to the size you expect. Fajas tend to run very small, and we rarely have a patient that leaves in a size “small.” - Wait – the Faja I Woke up in After Surgery is a Different Size than my Pre-Op Faja!
Sometimes, the faja you wake up in will be a size larger or a size smaller than the size you were fitted for – and this is perfectly OK! We cannot predict exactly how your body will change during your procedure. The pre-op fitting is done to give us a rough estimate of what size you will receive after surgery. After your procedure has been performed, the surgeon will assess your body to determine what the best size for your new proportions is. Perhaps you had a BBL and your new booty is too large to fit the size you were originally fitted for. The surgeon will use his best judgement to determine what will work best for you. - Why Does my Stage 1 Faja Feel Loose?
The Stage 1 faja has LOW compression and is meant to be loose – not tight. It is not meant to fit like shapewear or a waist trainer. The purpose of the Stage 1 faja is to allow your body to have adequate circulation for proper healing and draining. Remember, during liposuction, fluid is inserted into the body to allow for fat removal. There needs to be adequate space between your body and the faja to allow this fluid to drain and for your delicate skin to heal. You may even notice that your stage 1 faja feels snug at first but begins to feel looser throughout the first few weeks of healing. This is a good sign! It means your body is draining fluids and doing the work it needs to. - Some patients also notice their fajas fit well in one area, say, their waist, but are larger around their arms or legs. This is because the fajas are not designed to each person’s unique height and body proportions. The faja’s purpose is to work on the areas of your body affected by surgery. A Stage 1 faja that fits slightly loose will not affect the success of your surgery results at all.
- Can I Wear Undergarments Underneath my Stage 1 Faja?
You must refrain from wearing any undergarments beneath your Stage 1 faja. After liposuction, your skin is very sensitive and thin. Any added fabric could create ripples are marks in your skin as it is healing. - How Often Should I Wash my Stage 1 Faja, Lipo Foams and Abdominal Board?
It is VERY important to keep your Stage 1 faja clean to prevent any infections. After your first pre-op appointment, when you are given the OK from your surgeon to shower, you should wash your faja. Going forward, you should try to wash your faja every other day to keep them clean and free of any body fluids. PLEASE NOTE: when removing the garment for the first time, please be careful to proceed slowly as the skin is loose and you may feel dizzy as the compression is released. - Like your Stage 1 faja, lipo foams should be washed regularly – every day or every other day – to prevent infection. Some patients choose to buy multiple sets of lipo foams so that they have a spare while other sets are washing. They are economical, so buying a few sets shouldn’t hurt your budget!
- Your abdominal board cannot be thrown in the wash, but if it gets dirty, you can spot clean it with a product like peroxide.
- How Long Should I Wear my Stage 1 Faja?
Your Stage 1 fajas should be worn for three weeks after your procedure. It is important that you try and wear your Stage 1 faja all the time. You may remove it to shower and to wash it but should put it on right after. Some patients choose to purchase two Stage 1 fajas so that they can wear their spare when the other one is washing and drying. - Sleeping in your Stage 1 faja is also important. If you can tolerate it, you should sleep in your lipo foams as well. However, you must remove your abdominal board at night.
Stage 2 Faja
- What is a Stage 2 Faja?
After you wear your Stage 1 faja for three weeks, you will switch over to a Stage 2 faja, which you can purchase at one of your post-op appointments. The Stage 2 faja will be high compression and should feel much tighter than your Stage 1 faja. It will typically be the same numerical size (S – 4X L) as your Stage 1 faja. The stage 2 faja is worn alone, meaning you can toss your lipo foams and abdominal board. - How Long Should I Wear my Stage 2 Faja?
After you switch over to your Stage 2 faja, you should wear it for six months. You should plan to sleep in your Stage 2 faja as well. Throughout the entire day, your goal should be to have your Stage 2 faja at all hours except for when you are showering or washing your garment. You can discontinue all garments after six months, and cannot start waist training until you are done with your Stage 2 faja. - Can I Wear Undergarments Underneath my Stage 2 Faja?
By the time you begin wearing your stage 2 faja, it should be OK to wear underwear beneath your garment. Take note of how your skin is healing to make sure there are no visible marks forming from the underwear. - How Often Should I Wash my Stage 2 Faja?
Just like your Stage 1 faja, it is VERY important to keep your Stage 2 faja clean to prevent any infections. You should try to wash your stage 2 faja every other day to keep them clean and free of any body fluids.
Garment for tummy tuck
Wearing a compression garment after your surgery is one of the best ways to ensure you get the results you want. It can be difficult to understand the how and why, however, when your plastic surgeon recommends it. Although Dr. Howland can answer your questions ahead of your surgical procedure, it can be helpful to know what to expect. Here’s what to know about compression garments and how they can help.
How tight should compression garments be?
The purpose of a compression garment is to support the surgical site, the incisions, and the affected skin. If your compression garment is too tight, it will affect circulation and hinder healing. A compression garment should only exert gentle, supportive pressure, so it should lay flat and smooth on the skin. As a general rule, the correct tightness for your compression garment leaves space to slide a hand under without difficulty.
What if compression garments cause pain?
Post-surgery garments should support without causing pain. If your compression garment causes discomfort, make sure to meet with your plastic surgeon promptly. Poor-quality support garments are more likely to be ill-fitting or made from cheaper materials, causing problems. Your plastic surgeon can make sure you’re properly fitted for a quality compression garment that fits your needs.
Should I wear my compression garment throughout recovery?
Dr. Howland recommends wearing compression garments as much as possible for the first 2 weeks after surgery. After this time, you may begin to wear the garment for half-day only, and this is recommended for 4 weeks. There are typically two stages of compression garments. The first stage is provided for you with your cost of surgery and placed in the operating room or at your follow-up visit. This usually has zippers and snaps and is easy to get in and out of during the first 2 weeks of recovery. After drains have been removed and your body is better healed, you will be asked to transition to a second-stage garment (sometimes called a “faja”) for 4 weeks. These garments have less seams and areas that can cause asymmetry in your skin. They are also more difficult to get in and out of but will better shape your body and final results.
Do I have to wear a compression garment?
Yes. Wearing a compression garment is the best way to ensure you get your intended results and also prevent critical complications like fluid buildup or inflammation. You’ll be able to take off your compression garment for short periods of time like while bathing, but you should wear it according to Dr. Howland’s instructions. If you dislike your compression garment because it’s ill-fitting or causes discomfort, make sure to see Dr. Howland as soon as possible.
Do I wear my compression garment while sleeping?
For the first 2 weeks, you should absolutely wear the garment while sleeping. After this, Dr. Howland will allow you to wear the garment either during the day or at night. Most patients actually prefer sleeping in their compression garments since it can be comforting.
How long should I wear my compression garment after surgery?
Dr. Howland’s recommendation for most patients is 6 weeks: 2 weeks “around the clock” and then 4 weeks for half the day.
Schedule a Consultation
Dr. Nicholas Howland offers some of the best body contouring procedures in the Salt Lake City area and can discuss the right recovery steps for you. To learn more, we invite you to contact our office by calling or filling out our online form.Posted in Plastic SurgeryTagged compression garments, compression garments after surgery, wearing compression garments