compression garments harmful?

It isn't gravity because my swelling goes UP above where I had PS as much as it goes below - in fact maybe more so. 

Yup...me too. My swelling goes UP to my rib area.

My surgeon did not wrap me in one or send me home in one. She felt they are in fact more harmful than good. I asked her several times to be specific and she did mention the muscle issue in the compression weakening the muscles,  taking longer to heal and I can't remember the other one.

 I did not wear a binder with my LBL but a compression garment that is actually rather comfortable, so I don't mind wearing it.  He hasn't told me yet how long to wear it, guess I should ask when I see him on Wednesday.

 My PS has me in a binder for the tummy tuck but doesn't do compression garments for my thigh lipo until drains are out.  At that point she said to get spanx rather than a more expensive medical compression garment - she said the research is inconclusive on compression garments and that they may provide more psychological stability than physical.  

There is good science behind fitted compression garments...anybody who treats lymphedema or burn care knows that compression therapy is an important part of therapy for swelling. (i.e. Jobst garments)

By preventing distension of the tissues with the fluid that normally follows trauma, the stretching and deformity from swelling is decreased. Some believe that "toxins" are present in this fluid.

Lymphatic massage also helps carry away this fluid naturally.

The garment also serves as a "reminder" or splint for the area, and helps keep patients from overdoing it at first.

As with any splint, though, restriction of the normal muscle movements can happen over the long term, although my guess is that significant weakening of the abdominal muscles would be very unusual for the average PS patient who wears a garment for just a few months.

Just my 0.02.

Thank you SO much for responding! 

I know there is a reason why almost all PS (and compression garments salesman) always give a time-frame saying something like "4 to 6 weeks" or "4 to 8 weeks" and not just "4 weeks to however long you can stand it).

If even the people that sell the things don't tell you to wear them as long as you possibly can, you know it can't be a good idea.  (They'd WANT you to if anybody would to sell more of the things!)  

I just wish I could remember what the studies I had read defined as "long-term use". 

My PS said 4 - 6 weeks, so I'm probably taking mine off at 6 weeks; so I'm sure I won't have restriction of normal muscle movement or significant weakening of the abdominal muscles.  I was just curious. 

Thanks again for responding!

Wen

 

I have a friend who didn't touch her compression garment, as ordered.  When they next unwrapped her there were a couple of big, ugly black spots on each hip.  I think her garment essentially cut off any blood flow to the area and there was damage that couldn't be undone.

I hope Dr. L will return and tell us about that issue, because it scares me.

Was it bruises or skin necrosis?

I know you can have latent bruising from lipo (or even TT, etc), but I was told that a compression garment that was too tight (to the point of cutting off circulation) could cause skin necrosis (skin actually dying). 

 

I should call my friend, but I'm pretty sure it was necrosis.