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What’s the Deal with Compression Garments? A Comprehensive Guide

Dr. Johnny Franco

A compression garment is an aid that improves circulation, minimizes discomfort, provides protection, and supports recovery. For many procedures, they are often essential to the healing process.

Compression garments are typically made of elastic and other fibers. They are designed to fit snugly around healing areas, such as the torso, limbs, and facial region. Their design offers consistent, comfortable pressure to promote circulation and lymphatic drainage. Compression garments are used beyond strictly surgical contexts, including in athletic recovery, posture support, body shaping, and the alleviation of varicose vein symptoms. (1,2)

At Austin Plastic Surgeon, we use compression garments to ensure a smooth, successful recovery after every procedure.

To learn more about our services and receive personalized guidance about compression garments, contact us online or call one of our offices to schedule your personal consultation.

Benefits of Compression Garment Use in Plastic Surgery

Surgeons regularly advise patients to wear compression garments after surgery to aid recovery. After surgery, the body tends to retain fluid and swell. Compression garments apply gentle, focused pressure to promote fluid drainage and relieve pain. By improving circulation, they can expedite the healing process and protect against complications such as blood clots and edema. Certain procedures will influence the type of garment a patient needs: abdominal binders for abdominoplasty and hernia repair, supportive bras for breast procedures, stockings for thigh and butt lifts and leg liposuction, masks and bandages for facial procedures, and so on.

Tissue Support

The pressure that compression garments exert on underlying tissues helps reduce the occurrence of post-operative edema and other serious complications by improving blood and lymphatic circulation. They help facilitate the removal of metabolic waste and provide a supportive environment for tissue rejuvenation. By stabilizing joints and muscles, they can help prevent injury during recovery. And by promoting optimal circulation, they expedite the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to healing tissues and reduce the potential for scar tissue formation.

Pain and Inflammation Reduction

While applied pressure helps prevent swelling, edema, and inflammation, it also reduces pain-sensor activation. By promoting lymphatic drainage and nutrient reabsorption, compression garments help alleviate discomfort and expedite the healing process.

Supporting New Contours

Compression garments also provide aesthetic benefits that help patients enjoy the results of their treatment to the fullest extent. By encouraging circulation, compression garments can help prevent blood from pooling and minimize bruising. After body-contouring procedures like tummy tucks and liposuction, compression promotes proper skin retraction and helps your skin conform to the new contours, creating smoother, more refined results. The gentle pressure also stabilizes incision sites, reducing tension on sutures and allowing for seamless healing with minimal scarring.

A Tailored Approach to Post-Surgical Support

Medical-grade compression garments may require a custom fitting, as some types of garments are not one-size-fits-all. Our medical team provides patients with compression garments that fit their unique shapes comfortably. Clinicians measure compression in mmHg (millimeters of mercury) and classify garments according to the level of pressure and type of support they provide.

  • Class I (Mild): 15-20 mmHg – Typically used in early recovery or for minor swelling
  • Class II (Moderate): 20-30 mmHg – Most common post-operative garment that provides ample support without restricting movement
  • Class III (Firm): 30-40mmHg – Used for more extensive procedures or swelling
  • Class IV (Extra-Firm): 40+mmHg – Used for extreme swelling or specific medical conditions

An effective compression garment is one that is comfortable to wear and applies the appropriate level of pressure while maintaining healthy air flow, temperature, and moisture distribution.

Most compression garments feature hook-and-eye closures and adjustable straps to customize the fit as swelling decreases throughout your recovery, ensuring optimal healing at every stage. Flat-stitch or external-stitch seams help prevent rubbing or irritation, which is especially important during the early stages of recovery, when you will be wearing the garment for longer periods.

Personal Consultation

During your personal consultation, our experts will evaluate your health needs and goals. We will discuss your personalized treatment plan in detail, including a specific course of action for compression garments during post-op recovery. Our goal is for you to feel informed and confident as you embark on your treatment journey with us!

To schedule your personal consultation, contact us online or call our office location nearest to you.

Cost of Compression Garments in Austin, Texas

The cost of your compression garments will vary depending on the type (i.e., sleeve, bra, etc.), compression level, and brand. Austin Plastic Surgeon specialists will provide you with a comprehensive cost estimate at your consultation, and that will include a review of the price of any compression garments you receive after your procedure.

FAQ

How long should I wear my compression garment?

The best thing you can do for yourself and your healing after your procedure is to follow your surgeon’s directions closely. For post-surgical recovery, it is often advised to wear your compression garment 23 hours a day, seven days a week, removing only to bathe and wash the garment. You can gradually reduce wear time as healing progresses, as your surgeon advises.

How tight should my compression garment feel?

This might vary from patient to patient, but in general, the compression garment should feel tightly snug—that means it’s doing its job. However, it should not be painfully tight, nor should it cause numbness, breathing restriction, or tingling. If you are experiencing any overt discomfort, you should reach out to your surgeon so that they can walk you through the next steps. If you are experiencing a real emergency, you should call 911.

What do compression garments do?

Compression garments, when used properly, support proper healing, reduce swelling, support new contours, and reduce the risk of irregularities and complications.

Can I reuse compression garments from previous surgeries?

It is generally not recommended to reuse old compression garments. You should make sure you are using a new, clean compression garment recommended by your surgeon.

Can I wear my compression garments under regular clothes?

In many cases, yes. Most medical-grade compression garments fit comfortably and smoothly under clothes, especially loose-fitting items.

Can I stop wearing my compression garment early?

It is best to follow your prescribed treatment plan closely to ensure optimal recovery results and avoid prolonged swelling, increased discomfort, or delayed healing.

My compression garment is uncomfortable. What should I do?

The best thing to do in this situation is to contact your surgeon or care team. The compression garment should feel snug, not overly uncomfortable. Yours might be too tight or in the wrong position. Your provider can walk you through adjustments you can make and let you know whether you can take an approved break from wearing the compression garment.

When can I switch to a different stage garment?

If your surgeon has let you know that you will be wearing your compression garments in stages, they will provide guidance on when to switch your compression garment and which garment to switch into. The first switch often happens about two to four weeks post-surgery, once swelling and drainage have diminished sufficiently.

How do I wash and care for my compression garment?

Your surgeon will provide you with straightforward instructions for caring for your compression garment(s). Hand-washing and air-drying these garments is often best, or machine-washing on a gentle cycle in a protective mesh bag. In any case, you should avoid washing your garment on high heat, as excessive heat can damage its elasticity and ruin it.

What happens if I don’t wear my compression garment as directed?

It is extremely important that you wear your compression garment as directed. Even if you really want to take it off, you should refrain unless your surgeon has granted you intermittent breaks. Improper garment use might worsen swelling, make you feel more uncomfortable, and cause fluid buildup; it can even affect your final results.

References

  1. Born DP, Sperlich B, Holmberg HC. Bringing light into the dark: effects of compression clothing on performance and recovery. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2013 Jan;8(1):4-18. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.8.1.4. PMID: 23302134. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23302134/
  2. Weakley J, Broatch J, O’Riordan S, Morrison M, Maniar N, Halson SL. Putting the Squeeze on Compression Garments: Current Evidence and Recommendations for Future Research: A Systematic Scoping Review. Sports Med. 2022 May;52(5):1141-1160. doi: 10.1007/s40279-021-01604-9. Epub 2021 Dec 6. PMID: 34870801; PMCID: PMC9023423. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9023423/
  3. Ormseth BH, Livermore NR, Schoenbrunner AR, Janis JE. The Use of Postoperative Compression Garments in Plastic Surgery-Necessary or Not? A Practical Review. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2023 Sep 25;11(9):e5293. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000005293. PMID: 37753333; PMCID: PMC10519563. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10519563/