1. How long do I need to wear the compression garment after liposuction?
It is generally recommended to wear a compression garment on the liposuctioned areas for within 3 months after surgery. Stick to wearing it 24 hours a day for the first month after surgery; after the first month, stick to wearing it for about 8 hours a day.
2. Will it feel very stuffy to wear a compression garment if I have liposuction in the summer?
Compression garments differ for every season; they vary in thickness, comfort, and breathability. There are specific compression garments for summer with higher breathability, so there is no need to worry excessively about the garment feeling stuffy. Since initial results can be seen around 1 month after surgery, if you do it in the summer, you can enjoy the results in the summer.
3. What happens if I don’t wear the compression garment for such a long time after liposuction?
The compression garment is mainly used to prevent swelling, facilitate rapid recovery and shaping, prevent fluid accumulation in the early stages, and assist skin retraction to avoid skin laxity as much as possible. The compression garment is quite critical to the shaping results after liposuction, so you must wear it until 3 months after surgery.
4. How to avoid unevenness caused by improper wearing of the compression garment after liposuction?
Generally, improper wearing of the compression garment will not cause unevenness. Unevenness is usually caused by surgical techniques during the operation. Of course, it is recommended to wear the garment appropriately. First, choose the suitable size for the compression garment—your doctor will be able to give good advice on this. Second, when putting on the garment, smooth it out to avoid forming folds or overly obvious marks. Swelling in the forearms, hands, lower legs, or feet after surgery is generally caused by the compression garment folding at the elbow or popliteal fossa (back of the knee). In this case, smooth out the garment or perform a mesh release (alter/cut) on the portion below the elbow or popliteal fossa.
5. Is the compression garment for autologous fat filling the same as for simple liposuction?
There is no difference; both are medical compression garments.
6. How many compression garments should I buy after liposuction, and are the sizes the same?
It is best to have two compression garments to alternate wearing after surgery; the garment must completely cover the liposuction area. The size of the garment during the swelling period should not be too small; change the size promptly after the swelling subsides. The choice of size should be based on having pressure while being comfortable to wear.
7. Is the tighter the compression garment, the better after liposuction?
The size of the compression garment during the swelling period should not be too small; change the size promptly after the swelling subsides. The choice of size should be based on having pressure while being comfortable to wear. It is important to note that the pressure of the selected elastic compression garment should be moderate. If the pressure is too small, it will not serve the function of fixation. If the pressure is too high, it may trigger phlebitis or venous thrombosis, etc. Be sure to remember: the compression garment is not “the tighter the better”; it should be tight but not uncomfortable.
8. What should I pay attention to when picking compression garments for liposuction on different body parts?
For circumferential thigh liposuction, it is generally recommended to buy full-length compression pants (including the complete calf part); having the calf covered will reduce the swelling degree of the whole leg. For back liposuction, the compression garment must ensure full coverage from the nape of the neck to below the lower back; pay attention to whether the back of the garment is long enough. For facial and chin/jawline liposuction, it is recommended that the headgear wrap around the entire neck for complete pressure. For arm liposuction, the sleeves of the compression garment must extend below the elbow joint for complete pressure and to protect the needle holes. For circumferential waist and abdomen liposuction, it is recommended to buy a compression garment that goes up to the inframammary fold (under the breast) and down to the roots of the thighs; it is more comfortable to wear.
10. What should I do if the compression garment gets dirty? Should I wash it or buy a new one to wear?
You can wash the compression garment; compression garments generally dry quite quickly. Not wearing the compression garment for a day is not a big issue, but if you are particular about it, you can change into a new one.
11. Do I need to take off the compression garment to use the restroom after abdominal liposuction?
Most one-piece compression garments on the market have an open-crotch design for the wearer’s convenience when using the restroom. Therefore, using the restroom after liposuction is quite convenient, so there is no need to worry.
12. The liposuction area feels hard to the touch and feels very itchy inside the compression garment. Is the compression garment too tight? Do I need to change it, and how to stop the itching?
If the liposuction area is itchy, it indicates that recovery is underway; this is a normal phenomenon and has nothing to do with the compression garment. You must continue to wear the compression garment properly.
13. I’ve heard that liposuction surgery doesn’t require compression garments. Is this a gimmick or is it true?
Currently, the several mainstream liposuction methods on the market all require wearing a compression garment after surgery; do not easily believe some rumors.
14. Is it recommended to wear a compression garment when doing yoga, jogging, and other exercises 2 months after surgery?
It depends on your comfort level. If wearing the compression garment does not affect your exercise, you can wear it; if you feel it hinders you, you can take it off to exercise first and put it back on after exercising.
15. Is it mandatory to wear medical compression garments after liposuction? When can I wear ordinary shapewear?
It is recommended to wear medical compression garments. Stick to wearing medical compression garments for 3 months after surgery; 3 months later, you can consider wearing ordinary shapewear.