TT Compression Garment Advice Please

I will be having several procedures at once on Thursday. For the extended fleur de lis tummy tuck with hernia repair, I'll have a binder that I need to wear 24 hours a day for 2 weeks, then 12 hours for two weeks more. The binder is only 8 inches high so I'm not sure how it will possibly cover the length of the vertical incision. Did anyone else experience this? Maybe they gave me the wrong one and I need to see if they have a 12 inch. They'll put one on me right after surgery too.

The nurse suggested I wear a tank top underneath so the binder doesn't rub on the incisions. She also a suggested I buy Spanx to help with swelling, especially in the mons area, but also to help hold the binder in place so it doesn't slide up. Since my are being done, I think i'll need something that I can put on and hook closed rather than pull on. Also something without a crotch so I don't have to take it on and off to go to the bathroom. Spanx won't do either.

I see many of you use Marena. I like the one that goes up under the breast and down to the knees. Not sure how to measure since skin will be removed and not sure about the Stage 1 and 2. Would you tell me what you used, why, your satisfaction? Thanks so much!

I didn't have the same surgery as you but have used marena - never used a binder. I have been told to use stage 1. I measured the area that wasn't being worked on. So for my thigh lift I went with the waist size. What I bought was a tight fit for my thighs but worked to minimize swelling of the thighs. You need to make sure that it is snug enough to keep you in but not so tight that you can't wear it. Whatever you get will be tight when you first put it on but will loosen as time goes on.

That makes a lot of sense, thanks.

Jennifer

After my TT I wore a binder all the time for the first 2 weeks then the binder at home and a Merena garment when I left the house until about 2 months after my TT. Then I wore a Spanx open bust tank top for several weeks. My Merena garment went from up under the breasts and down to mid calf, open crotch, and zipped up the sides. Merena garments are great quality and well worth the money. I'm not as impressed with Spanx. They don't seem to be any better than the less expensive brands of the same type of garments.

Thanks, Angela! Do you think the mid-calf Marena would be better than the one above the knee? I know my belly and especially mons area will swell but I'm not clear on how far down my legs the swelling could go. I like the options of no crotchety and side zippers rather than hooks or just pulling it up and down, which I can't do because of the brachioplasty. I'd rather invest in longer term quality, too.

Jennifer

I choose mid calf length because my thighs are big and I thought the shorter length may dig into my thighs and be uncomfortable. The side zippers on mine also have the hook & eye closures like Tess described.

I had reg TT not fleur de lis tummy tuck with Dr J.  I used the binder they provided and then got the spanx.  If you get spanx get a size or two larger than the label said.  I got a small cause it was for size 4/6 and it was too tight so I also got a medium.  I should have got a large, the material is so thick it hurts to pull it up and on.

Thanks, Candy! The thickness of the Spanx plus being unable to pull it up and down, especially with my arms being done, are making the Marena brand sound even more awesome, albeit more expensive. How are your swelling and dents now?

Jenn

Dents are going away and I have never had much swelling.  I heard so much about swelling, but haven't had that problem.  Dr J is amazing, without using drains at all on my TT.

I will do a 2 mth post op mid November for an update :)

That is amazing to me taht he does not use drains. Did he tell you why? Happy healing and glad you are not having awful swelling!