compression garments after lipo

[roseka]

Thanks both, I look forward to seeing the results. Right now I'm worried about the amount of swelling and whether it'll drop in time to look relatively normal for holiday (for various reasons I couldn't delay til after the hol). Will keep you posted.  Any tips for keeping cool with girdle, stockings, surgical tape and a sports bra lol x 

[artemis17]

Kate, I had uplift to good side in Oct when LD was done on BC side & initially it was firm & high but has now dropped & softened and looks great!. The scars are hardly noticeable, I've still got full sensations so give it time and im sure it will settle. I'm only having lipo to my recon side.
Linda thanks for the lipo info, glad to know it's not going to impact too much on daily life.
Looking forward to regaining my cleavage!
Take care.

[chrisalex]

Hi Kate

I had an uplift over a year ago and have had lipofill but not at the same time.  I have not had lipofill on the uplift side.  A year on my breast has dropped considerably and now hangs much lower than on the MX side.  The lipofill was to put more volume on the other side but a lot has been re-absorbed so may have to have another go.  I hope that this has helped - let time and gravity do its thing and let us know how things go.  Regards Chris

[roseka]

Hi ladies. I'm 5 days post op from uplift to natural side plus fat transfer to both sides. I have to wear girdle for 6 weeks - I go on holiday in 7! Right now I'm not in too much pain and the bruising from fat removal sites is minimal. My main concern is how high and full/swollen my uplifted (and fat filled) breast is, its gone from drooping way below reconstructed one to being so high its almost hitting me on the chin! I sincerely hope it'll settle down soon. Does anyone else gave this experience?  I'm also extremely bloated? Best wishes,  Kate x 

[loona44]

Hi artemis.

                  apart from bruising and a little uncomfortable you will feel fine and able to do your normal things and wear your normal clothes but of course you will have to wear your spanx for six weeks .all the best for mon . linda

[artemis17]

Just a quick Q..how restricted are you in the first few days?. Im staying in overnight, once home are you able to walk about ok, move fully clinb stairs, wear normal clothes?. I don't do sitting still very well although am taking the rest of the week off work.
Thanks in advance.

[loona44]

Hi artemis,

                   glad you not had to wait to long for your op and hope all goes well for you  on monday . i am sweating in my spanx pants but they are quite comfy to say and well worth the money £5 .it has been two weeks now since operation on tues i had to ring the hospital breast was very red and angry my ps said to come to hospital that day and she would look at it .she said it was a reaction probabley because she had put a lot of fat into it but gave me some anti-biotics just in case it was a infection . today its not so angry looking but i think i have some fat necrosis in the same place as last time which will be dissapointing as i was very pleased with the way it was looking . i also had some discharge coming from it which was yellow in coulour when i showed it to her she said it was oil from the fat (YUK) the things we put up with just to try and get back to something like normal. anyway lets hope everything for us from now on is positive .

                                                             take care all you ladies linda

[artemis17]

Hi Girls,

Just to say i have my op on Monday, so quite excited, have just had a week in the sun so perfect timing really, i wont need to worry about the holiday weight. :-).

I have a couple of pairs of primark pants and a mid thigh to ribcage shorts, so im hoping that will be ok, they are tight but not like a vice. Piggsy, do you think thats tight enough. Yes we are at the same hospital although my surgeon is a female one. Im pleased with my recon too, its so life like, feels great and a good size considering its just my LD muscle. Im expecting to be in overnight, op taking about 3 hours. Have you any other tips??

Ioona, hope all going well with you. Im hoping for a cooler summer now im going to be incarcerated in spanx for 6 weeks....I'll post again once through op.

xx

[loona44]

Hi artemis,

                   reguarding compression garment they do need to be very tight mine are not tight enough according to surgeon need to be a size smaller than normal mine were rolling down on midriff .feel tight to me though what with them and compression socks very restricted .look like nora batty . black and blue this morning but trying to keep mobile .will be fine in a couple of days .last time fat was absorbed after three months they have put more in this time though so we will see what the outcome is . sods law your appointment came through and you will be away typical never mind you should get the next available one keep in touch . linda

[piggsytrotter]

Hi Artemis. Think we're at same hosp, Salisbury? Mr K is my PS. I've had bilateral mx with implants but only need lipofill on left side which had cancer Reabsorption has already started. Fat was put in around top and side of implant. Some small amount along top has gone, fingers crossed not much more. Skin has stuck to implant so can see rippling where nipple was. Think he might want to do one more but find out in Aug. I had lot of bruising, front looked like I was wearing navy blue bikini bottoms. Didn't drive for 3 days. Uncomfortable but not too bad. Only on paracetamol by day 3 and stopped by day 5. But I'm retired so could take it easy for first week. I was offered cancellation which is why wait was only 5 months. The waist clincher is pretty tight. I'm size 12 these days, was size14 BC, and I'm wearing large. Bought one from M&S size 12 could hardly get it on so that went back! I'm really pleased with my recon, not too uncomfortable and can't tell in clothes or swimming costume. Seems odd now to see women with nipples! Have a good weekend one and all, and sorry for long post xx

[artemis17]

Ioona, glad to hear the op went well & you're pleased with the initial results. Not so good feeling suck though...How long did it take the first time for the fat to reabsorb?. Hope this is the last time you have to have it & good luck with the recovery & nnot too much bruising.

I was offered a date for next Tues but I'm actually away, so I hope I'm not going to have too much longer to wait-typical though!.

Also do the compression shorts have to be mega tight ie smaller than your usual size?. The ones I have are pretty tight but not too uncomfortable as I figured you swell up a bit at first anyway. I'm sure I'll think of other questions but appreciate your feedback.

Piggsy, you've done well to have 2 gos in 5 months, there's quite a waiting list here, sounds as if they have done a good job though. Did you bruise much & how's the recovery going?. I'm hoping I won't need too much time off work.

Ok cheers ladies, have a good weekend.
🙂
Take care

[loona44]

Hi ladies,

                      had my operation yesterday home today batterd and bruised but all went well and the results look good so far was very sick this time so they kept me in overnight . artemis have you got your date through yet ? hope yours goes well . linda

[piggsytrotter]

I've come late to this thread so my experience may not be relevant. I had lipofill a week ago with fat taken from tummy only. At the weekly check I was advised to wear a corset 24/7 for at least 4 weeks, maybe 6! I had already bought a waist cincher from very.co.uk. You need to wear a decent compression garment in order to prevent fluid building up in the space where the fat was, and to help everything stay in right place! I had a small amount taken in January from my midriff but didn't wear the garment for long enough so I had a bit of a shelf. That seems to be improving. The results were really good, although it's early days and I know that quite a lot of the fat will be reabsorbed. I'm happy to answer any questions xx

[loona44]

Thanks artemis.

                             glad to hear you were pleased with the result of your uplift i wish they were going to do mine at the same time as lipo but ps said she wants to wait and see the final size and shape of recon then match them the best they can . let us know when you get your appointment through . i rang hospital today they said i wil be staying on the ward overnight this time will let you know how it all went . linda

[artemis17]

Ioona
I had an uplift on good side with my 1st recon op in Oct & its fab. Scars faded, didn't lose any sensitivity & its still a full C cup. After my lipo I will still have nipple work to do but as area numb & no implant I'm hoping it won't be as long a wait.
Good luck on 27th
X

[chrisalex]

Hi Linda

So far I am happy with the results although I can see that under the breast it is being re-absorbed.  It was also filled on top where there was a lot of dents and in the front where the stitches from the strattice were very evident (looked like a 4 inch row of nipples).  The nurse told me that what is there after 3 weeks will most probably remain - I hope that this is so.  Wouild I do it again, yes regardeless of the pain, but that depends on the PS.

I was told to keep knickers on for 6 weeks as I may develop liquid beneath where the fat was taken which scares me a bit but if you stopped wearing yours after 4 weeks I may try a day or two.

I guess I am ahead of you as already had uplift to other breast which gravity and age is now defying plus a nipple recon which was not successful - I developed necrosis and it fell off plus it is a good inch lower that real one.  This process takes years but here's hoping we all get there in the end.  Regards Chris

[loona44]

Hi chris and artemist.

                                    artemist you shouldent be waiting very long for op if you have had your pre op assesment we will all be very fashonable in our knikers together (not) . Chris i wore my garment untill bruising went which was about 4 weeks swelling on stomach went down after 6 weeks dident look any slimmer though wouldent be very happy if i was having it done for that reason .are you happy with the results of yours to the recon ? and would you have it done again .i dont know if i will but they say it takes 3 to 4 times .then i still have to have uplift to other breast then nipple etc i might as well be a resident at the hospital but hope its all worth it in the end . linda

[artemis17]

Hi chrisalex and loona44
Great to hear you're both moving forward, im hoping to get a date anytime soon.
I got some of the cycling short high waist shape wear, some from Primark and also a great brand from amazon that were only £6, so I'm all set.
Have had a preop, no need to stop tamoxifen so just a waiting game now. Im a quick healer so hoping I'll be back to normal within a week or two. I worked all through chemo so pretty tough. :).
Good luck to you both with your op & recovery and I look forward to hearing how you are doing.
Thanks

[chrisalex]

Hi Linda

Good luck for next week, at least now we know what to expect.  Just a bit of info, I too have a blood condition and was told to continue my asprin and hydroxy up to the morning of the op (for previous bigger ops I had to discontinue up to a week prior to surgery).  As a matter of interest, how long did you have to wear the compression knickers for?  I have been told 6 weeks. 

Anyway, let me know how it all goes when you can.  Regards Chris

[loona44]

Hi chrisalex,

                        nice to hear from you again and glad you have had your operation and all is well . i got myself another pair of compression pants but with legs in this time as i think they going to take more fat this time and include some from thighs.( got plenty for them to go at ) i did buy mine from primark they cost £5 BARGAIN.not looking forward to wed when i have it done but hopeing for better result the cardiologist as put me on blood thining tablets to reduce risk of a stroke so will have to come off them couple of days before worried now in case they cant stop the bleeding nothings ever straight forward . i will let you ladies know the outcome . linda

[chrisalex]

Hi there ladies

I looked in TKmax and Primark but found nothing.  After searching around many shops opted for M & S and bought 2 pairs of body shapers - they also do ones that go down your thighs.  I was shocked to see how expensive they are and M & S were reasonably priced in comparison.  The only problem is that the elastic at the top has given me a bad rash and so now wearing them inside out with cotton knickers underneath (very flattering).

The pain and bruising was pretty bad for the first week but much better now.  Some of the fat appears to be going which is a shame, but have to wait till August for next appt with PS.

Good luck Loona with next op.  Regards

[loona44]

Hi ladies,

                well i received my letter this morning and they are going to do my lipofill on the 27th of this month so only a few weeks to wait . i will also have to go to primark to get some more compression pants better get shorts this time as i think they are going to take some from my thighs as well . i will let you know how things turn out  i am being admitted to ward this time think they will want to monitor me because of heart condition . i just had it done in day surgery last time home same evening . best wishes to everone going through treatments etc. linda

[loona44]

Hi artemis,

                       yes we have been in contact before when you were having your op glad everything turned out ok for you .the bruising is bad after lipofill you will be black and blue and it is painful getting the pants on and off you will need the compression shorts if you having fat taken from your thighs not the pants . they are going to take more fat this time round so im expecting it to be even worse. it takes about 2 to 3 weeks to feel back to normal and the bruising to go hopefully it will be worth it do let us know how you get on .all the best linda

[artemis17]

Thank you everyone for the info, Sharon I will have a look online thanks.
You're right Yvie that there's little info out there. Hmm interesting too that spanx weren't particularly good. Ive never needed shape wear before so just assumed spanx fitted the bill. I have seen a few shorts on eBay but you can't really tell how they fit so personal experience of others is always handy.

Ioona44, I think we've had contact re LD recon before, I will certainly have a look in primark, its my love handles & inner thigh that's going to be the donor site & I'll need 2 ops, 6 mths apart. I'm hoping to get it done next month as I've got holidays soon & obviously don't want it before then. Did you bruise a lot & how long to get over the op?. I'd love to hear your experience.

Any other opinions are most welcome. Have a good evening everyone.
🙂

[loona44]

Hi artemis .

                     when i had my first lipofill last june i brought a pair of compression pants from primark they were very good and only cost me five pounds i have saved them as i am waiting for second fill as it was cancelled due to problems with ecg i heard today though they are now happy to go ahead so hopefully it will be very soon .when are you having yours done ? as i mentioned in previous threads it is a painful procedure so bracing myself and hopeing it lasts longer this time . hope yours goes well linda

[Yvie178]

Hello - I had fat transfer from thighs (front of ) to upper pole of recon and my surgeon told me to wear spanx type things, which I did.  There is not much out there by way of info but I found the bruising to be extensive and I have permanent nerve damage on one of my thighs - and you can see where the fat has been taken because there are dents.  I think maybe if I had worn something tighter it might look/feel better than it does now.  My surgeon said that the damage was caused because I did not have a lot of fat for her to play with.  So go as tight as you can bear. 

[13gerbera]

Hi,

I've no experience I'm afraid so can't advise from that perspective but Macom make compression garments for post-surgery so they might be a good place to start (you can find them via google)?  I used their bras after my lumpectomy and was pleased with them but have no idea whether their shorts/bodies are as good.

Sorry I can't be more helpful

xx

Sharon

[artemis17]

Hi all
As the title says, has anyone got any experience of or can recommend what sort of underwear is best to wear after liposuction & lipo filling. My PS has just said some tight-ish cycling shorts, but I'm sure there must be something better?.

I don't have a great quantity of fat in 1 place so little bits are being taken from love handles, inner thighs & tummy.

Appreciate any advice, many thanks ladies.
🙂