The garment is important. It –
1. reduces swelling,
2. supports your healing and
3. (should) keep you more comfortable.

After a tummy tuck or liposuction, you will hurt when you move around.
You shouldn’t be in severe pain at rest.
If you are, the garment is probably too tight because of surgical swelling.
Swelling under too small a garment makes it hard to breathe and can damage the skin.

What to do? First – call to say the garment feels too tight.
I can usually solve the problem over the phone by explaining how to loosen the binder (if there is one), cut the elastic, undo the zippers and fold down the top of the garment.

I like my patients to wear the zipper garment for at least two weeks. But if the garment hurts too much, I order a different one or have them change into a non-zip garment like Spanx as soon as possible.

Once we find a comfortable garment, I recommend wearing it for 6 weeks after surgery.
That’s how long our internal healing takes.
During that time, your body feels and heals better with a garment – just as it does when you wear a cast for a broken leg or a wrap for a strained muscle.

For more information from Dr. Morgan about cosmetic surgery and treatments, call us for an appointment, search our blog or go to www.realself.com – where Dr. Morgan regularly posts answers.