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Compression Garments, Ab Boards & Lipo Foams: Your Complete Post-Surgery Guide

I often tell clients that MLD and compression are a team. In a session I move fluid out of swollen tissue, and your garment then stops it flooding straight back in. Without good compression, even the best MLD can’t do its job.

Why compression matters

• Controls swelling and supports lymph drainage
• Helps skin re-drape and retract to its new shape
• Closes the spaces left by surgery, reducing the risk of seromas
• Helps prevent fibrosis, dents and uneven contours
• Supports healing tissue and reduces pain when you move

The three stages of compression

Timings are typical; your surgeon will tell you how long to wear each stage. Most people need 6–8 weeks of compression in total, sometimes longer.

Your Stage 1 garment should come from your surgeon or clinic, fitted straight after surgery. Please check before your operation that it’s included. If it doesn’t fit, or you don’t have one, let me know, as I stock Stage 1, 2 and 3 garments.

The right garment for your procedure

• Tummy tuck and 360 lipo: full-length faja with reinforced abdominal panels and high back, plus ab board and foams
• Breast surgery: front-fastening compression bra or vest with adjustable straps
• BBL: faja that compresses the waist, hips and thighs but leaves the buttocks free
• Thigh lipo or thigh lift: garment with integrated legs to the knee or ankle
• Arm lift or arm lipo: compression sleeves or a shrug-style garment
• Face and neck: chin strap or facial wrap, if your surgeon prescribes one

View my post-op garment range

Golden rules of wear

1. Wear it 24/7 in the early weeks, off only to shower.
2. Have two garments, so one can be washed while you wear the other.
3. Smooth out every crease and fold. Creases can leave lasting dents and lines.
4. Put it back on straight after each MLD session.
5. Size down as your swelling reduces, as a loose garment does nothing.

Too tight isn’t better. A garment that digs in can block lymph flow, trap fluid below its edges, cause ridges and even damage skin. Tell your clinic or me if you notice worsening numbness or tingling, deep marks, blistering or colour changes.

Ab boards

An ab board is a firm, flat board worn over your tummy, under your garment. It gives even, flat pressure where a garment can bunch, helps stop fluid pooling, reduces the risk of seromas and fibrosis, and supports your core when you move. Ab boards are especially useful after tummy tucks and abdominal lipo.

Lipo foams

Soft foam sheets worn under your garment over lipo areas: tummy, flanks and back. They spread pressure evenly, smooth out garment creases, protect tender skin and incisions from seams and hooks, and help prevent dents and ridges. Replace them with clean ones regularly and never let them fold over.

What is the “pouch”, and how can I prevent it?

The “pouch” or “shelf” is a bulge of swelling in the lower tummy, usually below the belly button and just above a tummy tuck scar. Lymph drainage from this area is disrupted by surgery, and gravity pulls fluid down into it, so it’s often the last area to settle, sometimes taking 3–6 months.

To help prevent it:

• Wear your Stage 1 garment, ab board and foam correctly and consistently
• Start MLD early and attend regularly
• Drink 1.5–2 litres of water a day and keep salt low
• Walk gently every day and avoid sitting slumped for long periods
• Move down a garment size or stage as your swelling reduces

If the bulge suddenly grows, feels like a water balloon or sloshes, it may be a seroma and needs checking by a medical professional. And remember: some “pouch” can be residual fat, skin or your natural anatomy. MLD reduces fluid, not fat or skin.

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This article is general information and doesn’t replace advice from your surgeon or doctor. Always follow your surgeon’s instructions.