Compression Garment Question

[Bonnie]

Hi! I'm having a tummy tuck (with lipsuction) on April 23. The nurse at my doctor's office told me I could use a girdle instead of the compression garment they provide. Since I don't already own a girdle, I wondered if anyone had experience with the special "tummy tuck compression garments" I found selling for around $100 online. Do they really offer any benefit (compared to the surgeon's garment or a normal girdle)? Doesn't a girdle fit the waist? I imagine that might hurt more...and be inappropriate for my 'full' tummy tuck. Is the extra money worth it? After spending $7500 I shouldn't complain about another $100 ...but I hate just throwing out money.

Thank you for any and all advice!
Bonnie

[PlasticRN]

Hi Bonnie~

My advice would be to wear the garment your surgeon provides, and then once you are a week out or so, find a girdle that feels comfortable to you because you may have to wear it a while. The problem with ordering online is that it is hard to find something that fits your properly and I would hate to see you throw money away on something that did not feel comfortable to you. In my experience, I find the medical supplies companies garments for lipo, tummy tucks, and even the bras for breast augmentation to be overpriced and mediocre. Patients have told me that going to Nordstrom, Kohls etc and buying a girdle that offered the right kind of comfort and support for them was more helpful. You just need to make sure that it is not too restricting and still promotes good blood flow for healing.

I had a breast augmentation last Monday, and the post op bra I had to wear was itchy and did not give me the support I felt I needed. I wore it for a few days and then bought a sports type bra that gave me the right kind of support without too much pressure. The flip side was that it was not as convenient and easy to put on as my post op bra. I think the medical companies just tend to have the openings and snaps in the right places which is convenient for patients, but they have not got the comfort level thing down in my opinion.

Remember that this is just my opinion, and it is important to follow your surgeon and his nurses advise for the best recovery and result.

Congratulations on your decision to have surgery by the way! Keep us up to date.

:)
Kristen