A Beginner’s Guide to Tummy Tuck Garments with impartial, expert information and advice.

What are Tummy Tuck Garments?

Tummy tuck compression garments provide abdominal support after your Abdominoplasty surgery. The abdominal support garment is used to help reduce swelling and bruising by applying pressure on the operated tissue.

Abdominoplasty compression garments can also provide comfort and support to the stomach and abdominal region during the post-operation tummy tuck surgery healing process.

When and how long will I need to wear the Tummy Tuck Garments?

Your plastic surgeon will usually advice you to wear the post-operative recovery garment during the first few weeks after your cosmetic surgery. Depending on the severity of you operation, whether a partial/mini, full or tumescent tummy tuck, you may be initially advised to wear the tummy tuck compression garment 24 hours a day for the first 2 to 3 weeks (even while bathing or showering) and less during weeks 4 to 6 after surgery. It is quite likely the your cosmetic surgeon may even recommend different garments for the various stages of recovery.

How many Tummy Tuck Garments will I need?

It is usually advisable to have at least 2 compression garments so that you can wear one while the other is being washed.

What do Tummy Tuck Garments look and feel like?

Your Abdominoplasty compression garment is similar to a full or half body suit that you can wear under your clothes, much like the commercial slimming vest that are seen on TV shopping channels. This is sometimes called an abdominal support girdle. The varying lengths offer additional support if you have had other surgery such as Thighplasty or Liposuction along with your Abdominoplasty.

The cosmetic surgery garment will usually include a zip on the front or sides to make the garment easier to slip on and off. However, the fastening mechanism can vary from zips to 'hook and eyes', Velcro or ties.

Tummy tuck support garments tend to usually be made from a variety of elasticated synthetic materials which are designed to be supportive while still being breathable and without restricting blood-flow around the body during the healing process. You can also get latex-free and hypoallergenic compression garments to avoid any allergic reactions against your skin.

You may find them with or without the arms and the leg-length can also vary as either above or below the knees. There are different styles to suit the male and female body type and are usually natural body-coloured; although white and black colours may also be available.

Alternative Tummy Tuck Garments:

• Tummy Tuck Abdominal Binder: a wide waist belt that wraps, and is tightened around, the stomach.
• Tummy Tuck Abdominal Brief: an underpants style brief that covers and supports the abdomen.
• Tummy Tuck Abdominal TubiGrip: an elasticated tubular bandage which can be worn around the stomach as an alternative to conventional Tummy Tuck garments.

Where do I get Tummy Tuck Garments and what do they cost?

The price of your tummy tuck surgery may include a compression garment for your recovery, although this is highly dependant on which clinic, or country, your Abdominoplasty cosmetic surgery is performed in. You should discuss abdominal supportive garments with the surgeon during your initial consultation (see our beginner's guides for more tips on cosmetic surgery consultations).

You may find it quite difficult to locate stockist or suppliers of post-operative cosmetic surgery garments, but it is important not to compromise on your healing. Resorting to using ordinary or sports support garments is strongly advised against as these compression garments have not been designed for post-surgery recovery, which may cause more harm by providing too little or too much support.

It may be possible for your plastic surgeon or cosmetic clinic or hospital to sell you additional garments which they usually hold in stock if they perform your particular surgery on a regular basis.

A final point to note is that there are no generalised standards that manufacturers need to follow for medical abdominal support garments. Therefore, always remember to consult your cosmetic surgeon prior to purchasing any Tummy Tuck abdominal support garments to ensure that they are compatible with your Tummy Tuck surgery and can help with your Abdominoplasty recovery.

The content of this article has been written
with the help of Dr. Taimur Shoaib FRCS(Plast).

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