After your procedure, it is important to wear an abdominal binder to support your abdomen and aid in the healing process. The binder should be worn for 24 hours a day for the first 4 weeks, and then for an additional 2 weeks at night for 12 hours. It is crucial that the binder be worn as tight as possible to provide the necessary support and compression to the abdominal area.
This will help reduce swelling, promote proper healing, and prevent complications. It is important to follow your healthcare provider’s instructions regarding the use of the abdominal binder to ensure a successful recovery.
You’ll need to wear the abdominal binder for two to three weeks, but many of our patients continue to wear it a bit longer because of the comforting pressure it provides. Your abdominal binder will also help: reduce pain. lower the risk of damaging your incision by supporting it when you cough, sneeze or laugh.
In this article, you will learn about the benefits of compression, how to wear one properly, and even some tips for hiding your post-op garment under clothes.
How Long Do You Wear Binder After Tummy Tuck
If there is one thing that confuses patients after they’ve had body contouring, it’s whether or not (and how!) to wear a compression garment. This article will answer all your questions about wearing compression garments. We gathered the most common questions from patients across the globe to create the most comprehensive guide you will find anywhere online.
Using a binder as a splint for muscle repair is crucial in preventing suture cheese wire pull through and aiding in the healing process. Scar tissue can take over 2 months to reach 80% of its eventual strength, making compression essential for at least 2 months post-surgery.
Extending the use of a binder for 3 months can further enhance the healing process and ensure optimal recovery. By providing support and stability to the healing muscles, binders play a vital role in promoting proper healing and preventing complications during the recovery period.
Tummy Tuck Binder vs Compression Garment
Why should I wear a compression garment after body contouring?
Compression garment are an important part of postoperative care. Wearing a compression garment can have an impact on your surgical results, speeding recovery and helping to shape your new contours. They speed the healing process, which means you can get back to living your life sooner after surgery.5
Wearing a compression garment takes a lot of guesswork out of the equation when it comes to your results. They help stabilize and shape your body’s new contours so they heal as your surgeon intended. Patients who wear compression garments may experience less pain compared to those who do not wear them.7
So, what do compression garments do exactly? The idea is to help close the space that is created within the abdomen as a part of body contouring surgery. When a patient undergoes a tummy tuck, the flap of skin is elevated off the abdominal wall, leaving a space. The same thing occurs with body lift procedures, which also create a gap between skin and tissue. Liposuction, too, results in a void where the fat used to be.
When skin and muscles are elevated, you want them to heal in the correct position. One goal of compression garments is to encourage tissue to re-adhere to your abdominal wall by closing the space with gentle, constant pressure. Compression may help tissues re-adhere exactly as intended by keeping everything in its proper place.6
Benefits of Wearing Compression Garments After Surgery
– Reduced swelling and inflammation
– Improved circulation and blood flow
– Faster healing and recovery time
– Support and stabilization of surgical site
– Decreased risk of blood clots
– Pain relief and increased comfort
– Prevention of scar tissue formation
– Improved skin tightening and contouring
– Increased confidence and psychological well-being
– Protection from infection and external irritants
Compression garments serve many purposes to help aid your recovery after a tummy tuck, lipo or body lift. Some of the key benefits include:
How can I hide my post-op garments during the day?
In the early stages of recovery, you will be taking it easy at home. However, hiding the garment may be necessary when you return to work or have to attend an event. Tummy tuck girdles and binders are relatively easy to hide if you avoid tight clothes. However, compression garments have hooks and zippers to contend with. These can be hidden easily with the right clothing.
If you are wondering how to hide a compression garment under clothes, here are a few tips:
Accessorize with outerwear: Vests and kimonos are a great way to hide compression garments no matter the season. In spring and summer, look for lightweight fabrics and gauzy materials. In fall and winter, choose vests or jackets made from heavier or knitted materials.
Layer your clothing: An extra layer of fabric can go a long way in concealing a compression garment, especially if it has zippers and hooks. These can look bumpy under clothes. Adding a breathable camisole tank top can help, for example.
Opt for thicker fabrics: Along those same lines, denser materials such as knits or thick-knit cotton can help hide the garment.
Choose nude compression garments: Garments come in various nude shades. If you are wearing light-coloured tops, the colour of the garment underneath matters. The closer the garment is to your natural skin tone, the better. If you are very pale, choose a light-coloured garment. Dark or tanned skin may go for taupe, tan or chocolate brown compression garments. If you are Asian, a garment that is more tan or has slight yellow undertone may work better. Of course, every patient has a unique skin tone, but you get the idea.
Wear loose, comfortable clothes: While you recover, you want to be comfortable. Luckily, office attire is much more relaxed today than ever before. Choose flowing fabrics and garments that won’t chafe your skin. Soft, natural materials will make you feel more comfortable when you have a compression garment on under your clothes. Avoid itchy or tight fabrics.
Sleeping Without Compression Garment After Tummy Tuck
I have been sleeping without my compression garment for about 3 weeks now. I had a tummy tuck and breast lift, and the plastic surgeon told me to wait 4 weeks before sleeping without it. I did not have any complications from the surgery, and I am doing fine with no issues.
I know that you are very concerned about sleeping without your garment, but you need to be patient. It takes time for your body to heal from surgery and recover from anesthesia and swelling.
You may find that after a few days, you will start feeling better, but try not to get frustrated if you feel worse before you start feeling better. If you are having pain or discomfort when you wake up, then take an extra day off of work so that your body can rest before going back to work again.
Compression garment after tummy tuck is necessary for a few days to prevent the skin from stretching and adhesion of the incision. The compression garment should be worn after surgery for at least 2 weeks, but it may be worn for up to 6 weeks.
It is important to follow proper post-operative care instructions and not wear the compression garment while sleeping. The reason being that sleep is healing process and wearing a compression garment in your sleep will delay this healing process by causing inflammation. This can lead to sutures pulling out, leading to infections and other complications. If you do fall asleep with your compression garment on, we recommend removing it as soon as you wake up so that you can make sure you are properly healed before wearing it again.
When To Start Wearing Ab Board After Tummy Tuck
When should you wear an abdominal board after a tummy tuck?
The first thing you need to know is that a board is not going to straighten out your belly. The best thing about an abdominal board is that it will help with sagging skin and give you extra support.
You can start wearing an abdominal board after your tummy tuck on the day of surgery or up to 3 weeks post-op. It’s up to your doctor whether or not you should wear one during recovery and how long you should wear it for.
If you are having a tummy tuck, there is no reason why you can’t wear an abdominal board after your surgery, as long as it doesn’t interfere with wound healing or cause any pain for you personally!
Most patients are asked to wear a garment around their abdomen for 4 weeks following surgery. This is to minimize the pressure on the incision and give it time to heal. The ab board is optional, but it’s very helpful for keeping the incision clean and dry.
You can start wearing your ab board as soon as you get home from the hospital, but you should not do so until your dressing is dry after surgery. You will be able to remove it at home when you can shower and change clothes without getting wet or dirty.
When should I take off my ab board?
You can take off your ab board whenever you feel like doing so, but if you have any concerns regarding drainage or excessive swelling, then you should leave it on until they go away.
The most important thing to remember is that you should follow your surgeon’s advice. The timing of wearing a compression garment after a tummy tuck depends on many factors, including the type of procedure you had and how much skin was removed.
The most common time to wear an abdominal binder after a tummy tuck is three days after surgery. In most cases, the abdominal binder will be worn 24 hours a day for two weeks. After this time period, it can be worn less frequently if needed.
It’s recommended that you start wearing an abdominal binder after surgery when your wound has healed completely and there are no visible signs of infection at all. You should wait at least one week before trying to put on your Ab Board post-op so that swelling from anesthesia or inflammation from surgery isn’t causing discomfort during the healing process.