Compression Garment = Torture Device

A lower body lift and inner thigh lipo on June 5.  I used a binder for the first 2 weeks and my thighs were swollen from the very beginning.  When I saw my doc at the 2 week mark, she took out my 3rd drain (still have one in) and switched me over to a compression garment.  It is basically a girdle to the max.  Goes from just under my breasts to about 3 inches above my knee.  The problem I am having is that my thighs are still very swollen and because the garement I got from my surgeon doesn't go to my knee, what was happening was that the fluid was being pushed down to the 3-4 inches between where the leg of the garment ended and my knee.  OUCH!  And the elastic of the cuff of the garment was digging in.  I've resorted to binding up my legs with an ace bandage and then putting the garment over it so that the swelling doesn't just migrate (it still does some) and my skin has a barrier between it and the elastic.  Not perfect, but light years better for sure.  

I just ordered a garment that goes from below my breasts down to about mid-calf. I can deal with the swelling and the garment itself, it is uncomfortable of course, but you do get used to it.  What I need a solution for though is the digging in, and this should help since the end of the leg will be at my calf.  No more elastic on my thigh and I won't need the ace bandages.  Yay!  

I have to wear a binder the entire six weeks. I hate it. My poor belly is so swollen.

My new garment will be here Thursday!  YAY!  Can't wait.  

On a happy note though, the swelling seems to be less today.  Knock wood that hopefully it will stay that way. 

I LOVE my compression garments and binder...  They save my sanity!  I am 9 weeks out and am STILL wearing them most days, all day long.  I feel like Im so swollen and coming apart at the seams (because I am) and the compression is the only thing that helps those feelings...  The garments I have are the Marena ones.  I have two, the ones that go from below the breast to mid thigh.  LOVE them.  Pricey, but worth every penny and getting a LOT of use from me.  Ive tried going without, and I end up miserable and with new open wounds.  And, they hide my rolls and extremely loose belly skin, which helps my mental stability, since my surgeon did such a crappy job.  I hope you can learn to love your "second skin" too.