Tummy Tuck / Binders?

I am just starting to research Tummy Tuck & Breast Lift. I understand the procedures, but know nothing about the garments you have to wear after surgery. What is a binder, how long do you wear it? Does it stay on 24/7? What about showering ? thanks for any info

Hello Debbie - I was given a binder by my surgeon, it was worn 23 hours out of the day for 30 days straight, no exceptions. The hour 'time out' was basically for things like a shower - other then that, it was like my second layer of skin. As I got further out, I traded the binder in for some very tight form fitting biker shorts. Held me in (compressed) just fine and less hassles then the binder since that tried to roll up or down a lot. - Lei

Binders can be a hinderance after awhile, but you do need to wear them for the length of time your surgeon tells you to. It only comes off when showering until they tell you otherwise. I wore mine faithfully. I am 10mo. PO and still swell from time to time and wear body shapers often. It feels better to me. Not as bad as a binder though. I'm having revisions done in Nov. so I will be doing the binder thing one more time. Oh, joy! LOL...It's worth it in the long run though. If you don't already know about this site, go to tuckthattummy.com...Very informative! Your Gastric Buddy, Jeannie Lap RNY 7-8-03 290/148 PS Oct.04 and 2nd round coming Nov.4th!

As much 24/7 as possible. You will be able to take it off for bathing. You will probably wake up with it on after your surgery if this is your surgeon's protocol. I am wearing one as I write this. My PS was 2+ weeks ago and I am to wear it for 6 weeks. I would recommend that you try and buy at least one other binder because you will get it soiled from bodily fluid discharge. You will need the additional binder for when one is being washed and dried. I have 3, 2 that I bought pre-op at a medical supply store here in the Chgo area. As far as a support bra, I cannot help you there at the moment, but from the TV shows that I have seen the ladies wear a bra 24/7 for a while PO also. By the way, I machine wash mine even though they say to hand wash them. I wash/rinse them on gentle and air dry them over night.

Thanks for the info everyone ! I appreciate it How to they close? Velcro ?

Mine had Velcro. Mine was hot, too, I'm glad my ps was in the fall, not in the summer! Hugs, Connie -147# @ goal post LBL post UBL

Heavy duty velcro that goes vertically down the middle of the tummy from under the breast to just above the groin.

Hi Debbie, I also wore my binder 24/7, only taking it off to shower (I had 2 binders, so I always had a clean on to put on). It REALLY helped alot with the swelling and helping to keep me more upright instead of hunching. I just had my PS in June and did not find it excessively hot to wear (I thought it would in the summer). I wore it for about 4 weeks, then switched to the BodyShaper garment (I think it is by Hanes) and that helped alot too with keeping swelling down. I wore that garment for probably another 2 weeks. Eileen

I wore (and appreciated!) my binder after WLS and wore it most of the time the first 2-3 weeks, then gradually weened myself. I wore it again this late spring after having abdominoplasty. I was told to wear it all the time the first 3 days (no showers : ) and then was allowed to take it off only when showering. After I got the drains out, 7 days after surgery, I was told I could sleep without it when I felt comfortable enough to do so, which was about another week later. However, I was cautioned to always wear it when I was up and about. I was extremely fortunate, however, that I didn't have any swelling or bruising whatsoever after the PS. In any case, ask your surgeon and abide by his guidelines. Enjoy the new you the PS will create! I was self-pay and it was worth every cent/dollar/hundred dollar bills, etc!!!! Ann

Hi! Several people addressed what to where after a tummy tuck, I thought that I would chime in about the breast lift. I had a breast lift and augmentation on July 18th-I wore a surgical strap for 1 week and then a soft cup (or sports bra) for 2 weeks after that (24x7). At three weeks out, I could sleep without the bra if I was comfortable. It has been great and the procedure was actually very easy to recover from! Best of luck!!! Nancy