Many liposuction patients aren’t thrilled when their doctors recommend that they wear a compression garment after their surgery. Although medically advisable, these garments tend not to be the height of fashion. However, regardless of how stylish they are or aren’t, compression garments are a very good idea.

Compression garments are stretchy, elastic pieces of clothing that are worn over the target area for a liposuction. The pressure that they exert on the newly-operated area helps the healing process in a number of ways.

During the majority of liposuction surgeries, large quantities of fluids are injected into the target area. These fluids make the surgery easier by causing the target fat to become swollen and firm. This gives the surgeon additional control during the procedure. The fluids also help contain medicines that fight pain and control blood loss.

However, after the surgery these same fluids need to leave the body. The pressure of a compression garment helps to assist the fluid to drain quickly and healthily out of the incision sites.

Compression garments also help cut down on swelling. Liposuction involves the removal of significant amounts of fat from the body, and it involves a certain amount of trauma. One common response that the body has to trauma is to swell up. A compression garment can help you to control the amount of swelling to that it does not become excessive.

The compression garments also help your body to heal in the right shape. As your body is healing, the compression garment can help your skin to fit better to the new underlying shape of your body.

Furthermore, it is likely that the compression garment will help you to feel more comfortable. By holding things in place, it can eliminate strange and sudden motions in the area that has just been operated on.

A number of different companies make compression garments, and exactly which ones you get may depend on your doctor’s preference. Some companies make multiple types of compression garment that correspond to the different stages of recovery.

Some choices may also be up to you. For example, most compression garments are made crotchless so that the wearer can use the lavatory without removing it. However, some people find wearing crotchless clothing awkward and opt to order closed-crotch compression garments.

Your surgeon will likely give you more in-depth information about what type of garment you should purchase, how long you should wear it, how often to wash it, etc. Make sure that you follow your doctor’s orders; it will help you to heal more quickly, comfortably and beautifully.