Question:
Question about info on surgical garment you wear...

I have a question regarding the garments you wear after re constructive surgery. I am having my inner thighs done, I know I am suppose to buy a surgical garment, my question is from all of you who have been there and done that, can I wear spandex instead, or a light weight long in the legs girdle ? I plan on buying one, but I would like something to wear while it is being washed. Any and all help is appreciated. I am so looking forward to saying good bye to my wrinkle dog looking inner thighs . Thanks Kelly    — domestic G. (posted on March 3, 2005)

March 3, 2005
After my TT I was given a binder to wear. The nurse was really nice and gave me a second one. by the time I was 2 weeks out, I felt I needed something better, as they were stretching out. Most of the PS's have catalogs or sources for you to order the garments from. I went online and looked, but for that $$ I wanted to see and try things on. I ended up going to a place I found online and happened to not be far from where I live. They sell all kinds of shapewear and girdles. If you are interested in the name, e-mail me. They didn't have stuff specifically made for post-ops, but they have plenty of things that worked for me. I got long legged panty girdles that had zipper closures, not pull ups. My PS sad they were fine, and they were almost half the price. I had a total of 4, but could have managed with 2 or 3. Good luck!!
   — Fixnmyself

March 3, 2005
My PS sold me a long leg garment for $100. They told me that if I could find something that went to my knee and had spandex in it to buy it.
   — Patty H.

March 4, 2005
I had an LBL, not thighs done, but . . . one issue to bear in mind is how you're gonna get the garments on and off when you're swollen, which you will be for quite awhile. The problem I see with Spanx and similar products (which I like and have used, but never for PS compression), is that I don't see how anything you could drag up your legs onto those swollen thighs would, at the same time, provide the firm support they need, even for the short time while you're washing your "real" compression garment. (Given any chance . . . my body swelled up to fit whatever I was wearing . . . so getting the compression garment back on after wearing a lighter one while sleeping was a real chore every morning for me.) *Unless* you can find something that will snap (best) or zip (maybe) closed, but I don't know how many such products are out there and I don't know if they're strong enough even for temporary compression.<P> The thighs are such a tough PS procedure . . . if it were me, I'd bite the bullet and spend the $$ for two compression garments for that. I know they're expensive, but unlike TT's or even LBL's . . . I've read too many stories of problems with thigh lifts (split stitches in particular) to not want the strongest support I could get for that 24/7. JMHO . . . hope you get an answer from someone who's had a thigh lift, not just those of us who've had TT or LBL. Different stuff entirely.
   — Suzy C.

March 4, 2005
I've had everything except my breasts and arms done. The LBL I had a stage 1 (side hook & eye with zippers over them) garment that went from my calfs to just under the breasts. It had a 4" wide elastic band at the top. The crotch was cut out so you could take care of bathroom functions and also gave a place for my 5 drain tubes to get to the outside of the garment. The reason the PS chose this garment, instead of a binder, is because of the lateral thigh work. He wanted some support and compression for the legs in addition to the abdominal area. Since I was cut all the way around and up the center to just under the breasts the garment covered everything that needed compression. The garment actually felt good and I wore it 24/7 till I was about 3-4 weeks PO and then usually at night. I also would sometimes wear Danskin leggings that were made with supplex, which are more compressive than the ones just made with spandex. Trying to pull the leggings over the legs and gut area was a little uncomfortable at first but improved over time. The numbness, bruising and pain from the lipo in the saddlebags made things pretty tender. <p>My 2nd PS was the upper portion of an abdominoplasty. Due to my waist being very anchored and having huge blobs on my back, below the bra line, they could not remove all of the skin in the first surgery. I also had very extensive lipo work done on the thighs in preparation for the skin removal. I came out of surgery with the same long garment on. The leg swelling from the lipo was unbelieveable. Even with the compression garment they were huge - like basketballs. After about 10 days I switched to the Danskin leggings again but it was horribly painful to pull them over the severely bruised legs. Once they were on they felt great, but getting them there was unbelieveable. I would also wear a long line, back support, front hook bra. I needed to have some compression on the incision on my back (I'm cut all the way around at the bra line) and found this felt the best. The wide elastic at the top of the other garment just didn't fully cover the incision. The long line bra helped keep everything compressed and provided support for the healing tissue. It took a good 3-4 weeks before the swelling from the lipo started to drop anything significant and a good 3+ months before it was all gone. My PS would not do the skin removal until at least 4 months after the lipo. <p>I had a medial thigh lift 5 months after the 2nd PS. I assumed I would have massive swelling etc, but I didn't. I think because I had all the lipo work done ahead of time, that somehow it made the actual skin removal a lot less traumatic to the legs and tissue. Nothing scientific to support this, just my feeling. I had dreaded the thigh lift from the start, as everyone, including my PS, said it was an ugly recovery. Many PS's won't even do the thigh lift with the cut down the side of the legs because it can be difficult to heal. However, for me it ended up being the easiest recovery of all 3 PS's. Not sure why, but I was very thankful. I came out of surgery with just the legs wrapped in Ace bandages. I was surprised, as I had brought the long garment along. After I was home the gauze and Ace wraps kept shifting so I ended up removing them and using the long garment some and alternating with the Danskin leggings. I had 2 drains related to the legs and 3 drains related to the revision work he did on my upper torso, so I just tucked the drains inside the top of the leggings. I also decided to wear the long line bra for a while just for extra support and help the revised tissue anchor down. <p>I went through the LBL with only 1 garment. I didn't wash it for the first week or so, until I could get the leggings on to use while it washed and dried. Because it was open in the crotch it really didn't get smelly. I got a 2nd one with the 2nd PS, so I could alternate them. You need to discuss with your PS if they want you using a compression garment or not right away, and if so, what kind. There is a fine line between good helpful compression and too tight and not allowing enough blood supply to get to the area for healing. My PS did not have me use the compression garment for almost 10 days after the LBL because he was so concerned about blood supply etc. He was also concerned of swelling but wanted to make sure the incisions were healthy before putting something tighter on them. Once I got the garment it felt really good. I had 19 lbs removed and he was concerned of so much trauma that he gambled the swelling over the incisions being traumatized. He was especially concerned of pulling something across the fresh incisions. So keep that in mind. I suspect that is why he had my legs wrapped and not in a compression garment after the skin removal. Once the incisions are well on their way to healing, and no obvious areas of skin dying, then it should not be a problem to pull clothes across them, but trust me they are very tender. So if you use a garment use it carefully and buy it larger. A little compression will work just as well in the early stages. My leg incisions are nice and thin and fading. Some days they are quite light and some days more red, but in time I suspect they will be as minimally noticeable as possible. It's amazing how they place the incision that you just don't see it from the front or back. Only when you cross your legs etc. I'm pleased with how the whole surgery has turned out. I am almost 4 months PO from the thigh lift. Good Luck!
   — zoedogcbr

March 4, 2005
I am amazed reading these posts. Following my LBL I used an abdominal binder for 6 weeks. arm lift, I had ace wraps for a week. thighs coming up next month and was told by my PS that I would have the ace wraps like the arms had. My healing went great, I was outpatient, doing stairs the same day. 2 days later walking 1/2 mile in AM and again in PM. and 2 miles a day the second week. I hear the thighs are more painful, not looking forward to that, but I am tough. With all the variations in surgeons recommendations, I think you should talk to the surgeon (hopefully board certified in Plastic surgery, and experienced in dealing with WLS patients) you have chosen to do your surgery. If you are putting your life in his hands, I would hope you would trust him to recommend the compression garments that he normally uses and gets good results with.
   — **willow**

March 5, 2005
your long line girdle down to your knees are your best best. i had 3 sizes. tight, tighter and tightest.my surgeon made me buy them in smaller sizes so as i got smaller, so do my garment. you do have to wear it 24/7 and you will look foward to the support after a while. your want a smooth look and no dimpeling or cottage cheese look. wear the right garments and wear them often. All the best1 Tracey
   — traceybubbles

March 6, 2005
May I suggest you look into having lymph massage and wrapping after plastic surgery. Lymph massage is a gentle massage and will help with the swealling and healing after surgery. I have lymphedema in both legs and get lymph massage and compression wrapping for reduce the swelling. A occupational or physical therapist who is a Certified Lymphatic Therapist can do this and are also knowledgable about post-surgical treatment. The wrapping is NOT ace wrap, they look similar but are short-stretch. My OT has had several private patients for who she did post PS treatment for. I am hoping to have a hernia repair with TT in May and she is already talking about taking care of me. I asked her how soon lymph massage can start after surgery and she told me the next day.
   — Sarahlicious