We use garments after plastic surgery. Why? It helps protect the area, it helps limit bruising and swelling (the less you swell and bruise, generally the less pain you have and the quicker you heal), and it lets you not look at it (and let’s face it- looking at healing bodies can be tough for those not attuned to it).
But I get lots of questions about garments, so here are 5 things you should know about garments: (and please, this is my point of view and it is not universal for everyone, so if you are reading this talk with your doctor)
- GARMENTS DO NOT SHAPE YOU. I think this is a common misconception. Wearing a garment does not help your skin tighten, hold your breasts up high after a breast lift, or give you a curve for liposuction. It does shape your swelling- If I wrap you in an ACE garment after a breast reduction, when I unwrap you, your breasts will look blocky and uniboob. If I put you into a bra, it will look like the shape of a bra.
- GARMENTS SHOULD NOT HURT. If your garment is cutting into you, too tight, doesn’t fit right, don’t leave it like that! I have seen issues with pigment, scarring, or other things from a garment that had rolled down, or was rubbing too much, or cut into their side. A too tight garment can restrict blood flow to the area. If it hurts = something is not right = call your doctor.
- GARMENTS SHOULD BE SMOOTH. This is a corollary to the point above, but you don’t want a garment indenting into your waist, arm, or thigh. Particularly after liposuction, this can cause a permanent issue. Adjust the garment, move it so it isn’t hitting into the exact same spot, pad it, massage the area. Exactly how to deal is something to discuss with your doctor.
- THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME TO WEAR COMPRESSION IS WHEN YOU ARE UP AND ABOUT. Why? You generate swelling and need support when you are moving. I have many patients who ditch their garment when they get dressed and go in public. Why is this bad? That is when you need it the most! So if you need to take a break, (again, talk about this with your doctor, and usually not recommended til farther out from surgery), it is better to do it when you are watching TV, not when you are running to the grocery store. As you get farther out from surgery, you “need” the garment support less and less.
- HOW LONG YOU WEAR THE GARMENT VARIES. This is again, something to discuss with your doctor. When I do arm liposuction, I only have people wear a garment for a few days. Why? The arm is naturally elevated so it tends not to swell and bruise much, and I don’t want to have a garment that cuts into the arm with elastic to cause a dent.
- You wear the garment after surgery to help prevent swelling and bruising after the surgery.
- You wear the garment after the first weeks to help prevent swelling. When you get up and about, you generate swelling. After a surgery, all activity causes you to swell more, and it takes longer to go away. Best way to avoid that? Prevention. Prevention = garments.
- That little bit of compression keeps you from getting puffy. Less puffy = less pain = less nerve irritation = less aching.
Garments for many patients make them feel better and “protected.” It makes sense. Also as your nerve endings wake up (commonly 3-4 weeks out ), it can help keep irritated or sensitive nerves calmer. When numb skin rubs on clothing it feels weird. The garment prevents that feeling.
Garments are also a good reminder of DON’T DO THAT! Which is super helpful for my ridiculously overactive overachieving Bay Area patients. It is a visual reminder of “Hey, you just had surgery.”
Garments are not all equal. I have definite opinions on which garments are hogwash, and which actually do something. But I won’t comment on that here. Your doctor likely has their own opinions.