Question:
How long do you have to wear support waist band after surgery.

Would appreciate any feed back please.    — Debbie T. (posted on October 10, 2003)


October 10, 2003
Although I asked my surgeon for one because I saw on this site that doctors were having their pts. use them, he wouldn't give me one. Said he looked into it and although they do give support and make your tummy feel better, they prolong the healing process. Therefore, not much use but i say, if you get one, use it.
   — Delores S.

October 10, 2003
Are those still used? It might just be up to your surgeon. Also, I don't think they use them for LAP, just open. I could be wrong though.
   — mrsmyranow

October 10, 2003
I used mine for about 2-3 weeks because it was comfortable. It felt like my insides were jiggling around too much without it on, so I wore mine until I was comfortable without it. The 1st week it was all the time and by the 2nd-3rd week it was less and less til I just quit using it. My doctor never specified how long to wear it exactly, just as long as I needed it.
   — Dawn P.

October 10, 2003
They never gave me one that fit properly so I used it about 3 days.....don't think I would have worn it longer even if it did fit better.
   — Sarah S.

October 10, 2003
I only wore mine the five days I was in the hospital. When I left the surgeon told me to wear it when I was up moving about a lot but I had a terrible heat rash from it and took it off when I got to the house and never put it back on. When I had my tummy tuck I wore it for at least six weeks - it felt so much better with it on then.
   — Patty_Butler

October 10, 2003
Thank you all so much for replying I don't like it but didn't know if I should keep wearing it to prevent a hernia.
   — Debbie T.

October 10, 2003
My surgeon never specified either, he just said when you were up moving around. I am 2 weeks out and wear mine almost constantly.
   — Saxbyd

October 10, 2003
Are you talking about an abdomial binder? Well one sure fire way to prevent rashes is to wear a tee shirt under it. I know, I've done it in the past. ;) As far as how long to wear it, wear it as long as it is comfortable.
   — Danmark

October 10, 2003
It seems that some surgeon want you to use them some don't. Figures. LOL Where do you get one that is L-A-R-G-E enough?
   — Marrilee M.

October 10, 2003
I would discuss it with your surgeon. I had open RNY September 23, and my doc wants me to wear my binder for six weeks. According to him, it takes at least six weeks for you abdominal muscles to heal to at least 70%. The binder helps to take some of the strain off the sutures inside, and support the muscles.
   — Rachel R.

October 10, 2003
I got my binder from the hospital, it was a little on the big side and it already seems to be getting loose, I hope I can use it for a while longer though!
   — Saxbyd

October 10, 2003
Marrilee - If needed my surgeon just puts two smaller ones together to get around the ole gut. They crammed me into an XL which was fine when I wasn't moving a lot. Once I was moving more it sure did not sit my shape. It would have been better for me if they took two smalls and then I could have flared it more at the bottom and maybe it would not have kept bunching up. Personally I liked the way it felt as it was holding in my insides, or at least it seemed that way. LOL I stopped using after about a week because of the bunching problems. We even hacked on one quite a bit shortening the height etc., but my shape just did not work well with it. However, I did not try the over the t-shirt thing. That might have helped it stay down better. In my opinion as long as you can tolerate it, wear it. Just extra support and makes you feel safer to do stuff.
   — zoedogcbr

October 10, 2003
Hey I had LAP but mine was by request:) I wore them both, it took 2 to get around me early on when out walking and doing physical stuff like cutting grass, it made these activities more comfy.
   — bob-haller

October 10, 2003
Mine was on when I came out of recovery, and like some of the others, it rolled up or down. I got around that by folding it over. I kept mine on 24 hrs a day for about 10 days (just taking it off to shower), then most of the time when I was up for a while. I went back to work after 2 weeks and it helped when sitting at my desk all day. One suggestion tho, if you fly while wearing one, let the people at the airport know. It sets off the scanner.
   — lharbison

October 11, 2003
OMG..I am SO glad my doctor didn't recommend I wear one. YEAH RIGHT...WHERE YA GONNA GET ONE TO FIT! I can gurantee they wouldn't have had one that would have fit me. Hey, that's it. Maybe the doc knew they wouldn't get a fit and figured 'forget it'. I just walked around holding my stomach for support. I bet one would have helped out. Oh well, those days are gone for good!
   — Ginger M.

October 11, 2003
I've been thinking about this. . . .Do you think that a body stocking would help? . . . .I've had problems in the past with the plain band rolling down from the top and up from the bottom. . . . I'm pre-pre-op and have been wondering if the body stocking would help with the loose skin problem post-op. . . . Does any one know if the band or body stocking help with reducing the amount of loose skin?. . . .I'd wear it 24/7 if it does.
   — Marrilee M.




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