Recovery following cosmetic surgeries is a legitimate concern that many people have. You want your post-operative course to go as smoothly as possible. This is where medical-compression garments that are specifically designed to improve healing and reduce swelling at the site of the procedure come in. Let’s take a deeper dive into the benefits of medical-grade compression wear. In this article, we will give you some pointers to discuss with your surgeon on your next visit.
What Is Medical-Grade Compression Wear?
Compression garments are made of fabrics such as latex and lycra integrated with nylon and cloth. These materials produce a study piece of clothing that fits tightly over your body.
Such material choice allows the medical-grade compression wear to exert uniform pressure on the procedure site. This comes in handy as you don’t want to end up with bruises or painful pressure marks.
Medical wear is designed to follow the contour of your body. Your choice depends on the specific operation site and how much pressure is needed for maximal recovery.
Also, comfort comes higher up on the list when choosing one compression garment over another. For the medical-grade compression wear to be effective, you need to have it on for extended periods of time.
Benefits of Medical-Grade Compression Wear After Surgery?
Compression garments are the standard postoperative care for a number of surgical procedures, and for all good reasons. Here are some of the key benefits you get from using medical-grade compression wear:
1. Reduced Bruising
Following any surgical procedure, there is a disruption to the blood supply in the area. To avoid disfiguring bruising, you can use the Abdominal Panty Girdle from ContourMD after procedures like abdominoplasty, stomach liposuction, and C-section, just to name a few.
The uniform pressure offered by the compression garment prevents blood cell dislocation towards the superficial skin layers. In other words, the bluish discoloration under the skin would never be an issue.
2. No Skin Sagging
To avoid skin sagging and lumping, you should use a suitable compression garment that covers the site of the surgery.
By applying pressure to the area, the skin maintains contact with the underlying structures. Such support considerably accelerates the healing process and prevents fluid from accumulating in this potential tissue plane.
3. Reduced Swelling
Upon using the right medical-grade compression wear, you prevent fluid build-up in cavities and planes related to the surgical area.
This helps reduce the disfiguring swelling that might develop but, most importantly, ensures that the healing tissues get enough supply of nutrients and oxygen.
Bear in mind that postoperative swelling is a cause of weight gain after surgeries. When using the Brief Body Garment following operations in the tummy area, fluid accumulation will never get out of hand.
Also, you can accurately track your weight during the recovery period without accounting for fluid build-up that renders your measurements unreliable.
4. Improved Blood Circulation
Pain and wound care can limit your mobility following a surgical procedure. Reduced movement, in turn, negatively impacts blood circulation, especially in dependent areas like the legs and back.
Improper circulation promotes blood clot formation, which presents with dire circumstances that are completely avoidable with proper care. Clots in the lower limbs can shower to any organ in your body and steal away its blood supply which could affect tissue viability.
You could avoid such unwanted consequences by using medical-grade compression wear to support your blood circulation and ensure tissues at the surgical bed get their fair share of nutrients and oxygen for proper wound healing.
It’s also worth noting that healthy blood circulation is key to preventing postoperative infection. Fresh blood comes loaded with white blood cells and other immune cells to fight off potential microbes at the site of the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Do I Need to Wear My Compression Garment Following the Surgery?
It varies depending on the type of procedure, the size of the surgical wound, and the nature of the affected tissue. As a rule of thumb, expect to wear your ContourMD body shaper or compression girdle for about 6 to 8 weeks.
Do I Need to Wear My Medical-Grade Compression Garments While Sleeping?
For major surgical operations like body lifts, abdominoplasty, and liposuction, you’re expected to have your compression garment on 24/7 for at least four weeks. After such a period, you can take off your medical-grade wear before going to bed. Consult your surgeon before making any adjustments to your compression garment routine.
How Tight Does My Compression Garment Have To Be?
You need to strike the right balance between having a tight enough compression to prevent fluid build-up, skin sagging, and bruising while maintaining a level of comfort that allows you to take on your daily tasks with ease. You could crank up the pressure gradually as you move into your second or third postoperative week to deliver the best results.
To Wrap Up
Now that you know how medical grade compression wear can improve your postoperative recovery, you could consult your surgeon on how to include such garments in your care.
To get the best results, make sure you’re picking the right size, having the best fit, and choosing a comfortable fabric.
You always want the process of getting in and out of your compression garment as easy as possible. That’s why you need to pick the ones with straps and zippers that remove the hassle of tightening such body-shaping wear.
