Compression Garments

I am scheduled for LBL on 3/24/2011... less than 2 weeks away. I need to get some compression garments, but am not sure what to get.

What worked BEST for you? Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

I woke up from surgery wearing an abdominal binder and my surgeon provided me with two more so I always had one clean and dry ready to put on after a shower.

My instructions were to wear the abdominal binder for two weeks after which I could wear one of those boy shorts type girdles. I actually found those girdles more uncomfortable and I didn't like the idea of having to take it off when I went to the bathroom, exactly when I felt I really wanted, for psychological reasons, compression on my LBL. Some of these girdle boy shorts have openings that you could go to the bathroom through but it seems to me the few that have posted all said they still felt they had to drop the girdle when they went to the bathroom. With my surgeons approval I just kept wearing my binder until I was told I didn't need compression at 6 weeks.

I know there are several expensive compression garments but they really aren't necessary. The binder is very easy to put on - wrap it around you tautly and press down on the velcro section. It's a lot easier than pulling on a girdle LOL. I did cut one row off my binder so that it fit properly. You're only going to wear this for maybe a month or two - better to save your money for the new clothes that you will be buying after the swelling goes down. That's what I did.

Angie you know I didn't even ask if I would recieve a garment  and I had a list... I guess when I go for pre-op  I will inquire. I would think there going to send you home in one . I do know people say they are not cheap.

 I also woke up in a binder and I wore it for about 2 weeks. From there I moved into a girdle type garment made by Flexees. I bought it at Kohl's. It was so soft and silky and felt much better against my skin than the binder. I continued to wear the girdle full time until about 4 months out. I never had any issues with swelling.

If you do want to go the girdle type garment - try Renee's Flexees and not the Spanx and the Target version because I had the latter two and hated both which is why I kept on with the binder.

Target has the best wife beater tank shirt - it's a very soft cotton/spandex tank top that is very long and very soft so it will completely protect you from the binder. The bonus wearing this stretchy shirt was I never had to use tape to hold my bandages over my wounds before they healed. Instead, I just placed the bandage over the scar area then pulled the t shirt over to hold it into place - I could work around my body and once all the bandages were in place I put the binder on. It was so nice not to have remove tape each day before my shower.

I have heard the suggestion to wear a "wife beater" t-shirt under the binder to help with the rubbing, etc.  Do you think this is a good idea?  I will be having my anchor TT in April and am trying to get my ducks in a row.l
Thanks!

 Yes, definitely wear a soft t-shirt under the binder. It can feel itchy and can rub you without one.

Since I've been using the abdominal binder I have found it more comfortable to wear either a wife beater or one of those long sleeved undershirts that help retain warmth (I'm always cold) I think the brand name was cuddlesoft or cuddle under- something liek that- i got a few from target in the undergarments/sleepwear area. 

I too woke up from surgery in a binder, it was a Design Veronique brand in Black (was a good choice of color due to blood seepage from the drains). It was fitted on me the day before surgery. I liked it for early post op since I came home with drains in and the tubes were put out the bottom of the body suit and I just pinned them to my sweat pants that I wore over the body suit, the only problem I had was since the garment was crotch-less I had a swelling problem and was swelling out of it for the first few days so I put compression underwear on over it to help with the swelling. I also liked that once I had the drains removed and could remove the garment to go to the bathroom I wore normal underwear under it and was able to un zip and hook the garment easily to use the bathroom. Once the swelling went down and I was not afraid of pulling on another type of garment I did switch to a flexees bodysuit that I wore till I was 6 weeks out and I would not buy the flexees till you were ready to start wearing it cause you might need a smaller size than you think. 

Good luck with your LBL..

Stella

I had panniculectomy done on March 3 covered by my insurance and I too woke from surgery in a binder.....I was told to wear it 24/7 for 6 weeks..

I like it tight so I get my DH to pull it tight over my tummy after I shower.....To keep it from rubbing, I wear my old brief panties and pull them up over my incsions and waist and them the binder is on top.

i too stay cold alot so t-shirts are good too..I have managed to rub a little bruise on my side....when I go to the restroom, I roll binder up from the bottom to keep from taking it off mutiple times.  then I just roll it back down and repositions over my body.