The Importance And Benefits Of Compression After Plastic And Cosmetic Surgery
Wearing A Compression Garment After Plastic And Cosmetic Surgery
Compression garments are an important part of the recovery process following plastic and cosmetic surgery, including procedures such as breast surgery (breast augmentation, breast reduction and breast lift), liposuction, abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and other body contouring surgeries.
Having undergone plastic or cosmetic surgery, your body experiences trauma that triggers an inflammatory response. Inflammation and swelling is a natural healing mechanism, and while necessary, if unmanaged it can cause excessive swelling that can extend your recovery time and can lead to a less favorable outcome.
Wearing a compression garment after plastic or cosmetic surgery is a simple yet highly effective way to manage swelling to ensure a smoother recovery and optimal surgical results. A proper post surgical compression garment will offer you numerous benefits that can significantly affect your healing process and provide you with the best surgical outcome.
Compression garments apply consistent, controlled pressure to the surgical sites which serves several important functions:
- helps to reduce swelling and bruising
- improves blood circulation for faster healing
- supports and stabilizes contours and shapes for enhanced outcomes
- provides greater comfort and mobility
- helps minimize scarring
- lowers the risk of complications
Reduces Swelling And Bruising
Wearing a compression garment can help minimize the body’s natural response of post-operative swelling and related discomfort. Compression garments work by applying consistent pressure to the surgical area, preventing excessive fluid buildup (swelling) and promoting proper lymphatic drainage. The more that you are able to control and reduce swelling, the faster your body can heal.
The disruption of blood vessels is a normal side effect of any surgical procedure. When blood vessels rupture, blood leaks into the surrounding tissue resulting in bruising around the surgical site. By distributing even pressure around the surgical area a compression garment can help prevent blood cells from moving toward the skin's surface after rupture, thereby minimizing the appearance of bruising after surgery.
Improves Circulation
Good blood flow and circulation is an essential component for healing after surgery. The unimpeded and efficient delivery of blood carrying oxygen and nutrients to healing tissues can accelerate the healing process. Wearing compression garments will help maintain optimal blood flow by applying uniform pressure within the surgical site, which will also facilitate with the removal of waste products, further helping recovery and healing.
Supports And Stabilizes Contouring And Shaping For Enhanced Outcomes
Surgical procedures including plastic and cosmetic surgery, including liposuction, tummy tuck, and breast surgery can significantly alter the body’s structure. Without proper support the newly shaped and contoured tissues may shift, which can lead to less than optimal aesthetic results. Additionally, uncontrolled swelling lack of support can stretch the skin and impact the final contour and shape of the surgical area.
Wearing post surgical compression garments can help stabilize surgical areas by helping to keep all new contours and shapes in place during healing. The support provided by these compression garments is particularly crucial during the early stages of recovery when the body is still adjusting to the surgical modifications. Wearing compression garments helps to stabilize surgical sites, prevent unnecessary movement, and promote even and smooth healing. Compression garments can also provide extra protection for your surgical incisions, making them less vulnerable to tension and infection and reducing the risk of wound separation.
Provides Comfort And Improves Mobility
Post-surgical pain and discomfort is an unavoidable part of the recovery process, but compression garments can help alleviate some of the pain associated with swelling, bruising, and lack of mobility. The gentle pressure that these compression garments provide helps create a soothing effect, reducing sensitivity in the surgical sites and helps make everyday activities more manageable.
Additionally, compression garments act as a protective barrier between incisions, the surgical sites and healing skin to external factors such as clothing, movement or accidental bumps. The added layer of protection that a post surgical compression garment provides also helps to minimize skin irritation and discomfort, allowing you to focus on your recovery without unnecessary pain.
Compression garments are designed and made with materials that allow them to stretch while still supporting your tissue. Your post surgical compression garment should fit snugly enough to provide stability, support and comfort to the surgical sites but it should not be so tight that it is uncomfortable to wear, restricts mobility or your ability to breath. Simply knowing that your surgical sites are stable and protected, you will also feel more emotionally secure and confident in your ability to move during post surgery healing.
Minimizes Visible Scarring
Scarring is a common concern following plastic or cosmetic surgery, and while some scarring is an inevitable result of having this surgery, compression garments can help minimize its severity. Your surgeon will perform the procedure in a way to minimize the amount of scarring, often by strategically placing incisions in areas that are not very visible. By applying gentle pressure to the skin, a compression garment will also help to soften and flatten the areas of the incisions, and to gradually reduce the appearance and extent of scars.
Additionally, a compression garment will help smooth out the skin by reducing irregularities caused by fluid retention or uneven healing. A well-fitted properly worn compression garment can significantly improve the overall texture and appearance of your skin, enhancing the post surgical outcome.Most plastic and cosmetic surgery patients will find that wearing a compression garment leads to a more refined, aesthetically pleasing final post surgical result.
Reduces The Risk Of Infection
While rest is a critical component of the post surgical recovery process, having lower or limited mobility after surgery may result in poor circulation within your body, and in particular to the surgical site. Wearing a compression garment provides stability and offers mobility that will help promote circulation, which reduces the risk of blood clots and infection. However, since a compression garment will be in contact with surgical sites, it is also very important to keep your compression garment clean to prevent infection from wearing the garment.