How Do You When Its Time To Take off Your Garment?

[Grandpa Bambu]

[quote author=Dr. Pope link=topic=14155.msg98907#msg98907 date=1211207921]
I instruct my patients to wear the compression vest day and night for only two weeks.
[/quote]

I agree with Dr. Pope...  Unless you are a difficult healer, then 2 weeks should suffice.

Think about it... when you get a laceration, would you wear a bandage for over two weeks? Not likely...    You'd wear a bandage for a few days. In which time, the wound has had time to close up. The main purpose of the compression garment is to hold the disturbed flesh together as it heals. IMO, 2 weeks is more than enough time for that 'disturbed' flesh to be semi-healed as in the 'laceration' analogy. Anything more than that (IMO), is over-kill!!!

GB

[Noseguard]

OK Ill weigh in too.

I am five weeks post op and am back to wearing my garments (binder or vest) about 20hrs/day.

I wear a secondary garment for the gym in the morning and I usually take off my vest a couple hours before bed.  Then i wear the binder all night.

I took off my stuff after 3 weeks as my doc had said, but it hurt after a couple hours, swelling was exaggerated, and it looked worse.

There really isn't a one size fits all answer to this question.  I tend to think because of my age and severity of my G initially I have to go a little longer.

I wish I could have shed it comfortably after 3 weeks, but just not possible.

[Grandpa Bambu]

Yeah, you're right there dude....   'Individual results may vary'....
 
GB

[MSJ108]

I have read 24-7 for first two weeks many many times

[jtd993]

I wore my vest for 4 weeks and switched to Athletic Works shirts from Wal-Mart.  Just like UnderArmour but only $10 and I wear Mediums instead of a Large which I'd normally wear.  Very comfortable and supportive too.

Until I was 4 weeks post-op it didn't feel good to have the vest off. 

[ddrop]

[quote author=Dr. Pope link=topic=14155.msg98907#msg98907 date=1211207921]
I instruct my patients to wear the compression vest day and night for only two weeks.  They can go longer if they prefer, and many do. 

I've actually had this surgery myself (3 years ago) and after two weeks I was on a long plane flight and my vest was driving me crazy (10 or 12 days out) so I actually took it off while in my seat on the plane. 

They say doctors make the worst patients; I guess I proved that. 

Anyway, the longer you wear the compression garments, the better.  But I know how miserable they can be so I don't force the issue.

Dr. Pope, M.D.
[/quote]

I'm curious doc, does the lenght that you wear your garment after the initial two weeks affect your final results or does it just reduce short-term swelling and discomfort?

[mkit8971]

I was told by my PS that two weeks was enough.  The only time i was to wear it was during the periods where i could possibly develop more swelling (i.e. the gym).  I am now almost 6 weeks post-op and was cleared completely of the vest.  No more wearing it, period. 

[baron]

Just want to say thanks again for all the input from people here.

Gonna try without vest this week (I am 3 weeks post op today), and will let you's know how it goes.

Then when garment is off, I shall post some pics in the pics section

Cheers
Baron

[MSJ108]

Just want to say thanks again for all the input from people here.

Gonna try without vest this week (I am 3 weeks post op today), and will let you's know how it goes.

Then when garment is off, I shall post some pics in the pics section

Cheers
Baron

good luck brother

[MSJ108]

I wore my vest for 4 weeks and switched to Athletic Works shirts from Wal-Mart.  Just like UnderArmour but only $10 and I wear Mediums instead of a Large which I'd normally wear.  Very comfortable and supportive too.

Until I was 4 weeks post-op it didn't feel good to have the vest off. 

Athletic works from Wal-Mart huh. Thats much cheaper than the UnderArmor. I will have to check it out. Thanks!

[MSJ108]

http://reviews.walmart.com/1336/7999703/reviews.htm

[monterojl]

Just want to say thanks again for all the input from people here.

Gonna try without vest this week (I am 3 weeks post op today), and will let you's know how it goes.

Then when garment is off, I shall post some pics in the pics section

Cheers
Baron

Isnt the Garmet and the Vest, the same thing?

[MSJ108]

Just want to say thanks again for all the input from people here.

Gonna try without vest this week (I am 3 weeks post op today), and will let you's know how it goes.

Then when garment is off, I shall post some pics in the pics section

Cheers
Baron

yes some call it vest some garment (at least from what I read)

Isnt the Garmet and the Vest, the same thing?

[baron]

Isnt the Garmet and the Vest, the same thing?

Yep. Sorry if I'm confusing things. I mean the garment, which I have been wearing 24/7 since the op 

[George Pope, M.D.]

Note to Ddrop:

It reduces swelling and discomfort for the most part.  But it can also stabilize loose skin during the early healing phase.  Excessive swelling early on could stretch skin even more, and that could affect longterm results. 

Dr. Pope, M.D.