Depending on the type of surgery you have, you may have to wear a surgery recovery garment that will help you heal during the recovery process. But what are surgery recovery garments, why do you need them, and what kinds are out there? Here is what you need to know about surgery recovery garments.
Surgery recovery garments, also called compression garments, are special dressings that, you guessed it, compress the post-surgery area to help with healing. The garments help by putting external pressure onto the surgery site. This helps keep swelling down, prevent the formation of blood clots, give support to your new shape, and lessen the stress placed on the incision area. It also helps keep your blood circulation flowing so that your body has better opportunities to heal.
Surgery recovery garments are essential to help your body heal faster and optimize results. As we stated previously, these pressure therapy garments do a lot to keep circulation flowing and can minimizing bruising. Wearing them for approximately 6 to 8 weeks (depending on the type of surgery and your healing progress) immediately after surgery allows you to have a faster recovery time, while still comfortably allowing all muscular body movement to return to daily life.
They are also great for other health benefits. For example, if you have a medical condition such as diabetes or poor circulation, these garments can have a positive impact and assist in a variety of ways.
There are several different surgery recovery garments available, depending on the type of procedure you have. These range from open buttock support to full girdle to arm compression. Here are a just a few examples of garments your surgeon may require for your procedure:
Compression sleeves are for surgeries on the arm, like arm lifts or brachioplasty. They squeeze your arm to help blood flow after the surgery. The amount of time you must wear the compression sleeves will vary based on how your body reacts to the surgery and the amount of work which was done.
When you have a breast augmentation, you will need to support your new breasts. While initially your breasts will be wrapped with light support, you will need a compression bra, which is similar to like a sports bra, that will help support your breasts and reduce pain by keeping the incision site protected and clear of the danger of rubbing against other clothing.
If your procedure is in the abdominal area, such as a tummy tuck, you may receive an abdominal binder. The binder will keep your tummy compressed with the intent of keeping swelling down. The less swelling, the less pain you will have during your recovery.
To reduce swelling after a facelift procedure, your plastic surgeon may require you to wear a “jaw bra,” more popularly known as a head dressing. It is important to wear this garment immediately after surgery until your post-op appointment to reduce swelling and prevent a delay in healing.
After a mommy makeover or a tummy tuck, it’s important to maintain the contours that your plastic surgeon just achieved in the operating room. A bodysuit or girdle is crucial to supporting your new beautiful body shape.
Of course, this is not an extensive list of all the surgery garments available. Dr. Fischer will be able to tell you the exact type of garment(s) required when you have your pre-op consultation. Are you ready for a new path? Schedule an appointment today with Dr. Fischer and discuss your options! You deserve to treat yourself!
At The Advanced Center for Plastic Surgery we are dedicated to providing the most up-to-date information about all of the cosmetic procedures that we offer. Schedule your consultation today!