How Long to Wear a Compression Vest after Gynecomastia Surgery?

Gynecomastia surgery is a cosmetic procedure that reduces excess breast tissue in men. This surgery involves removing excess glandular tissue, fat, and skin from the chest area, providing a flatter, more masculine chest. It improves self-confidence and body image in men affected by this condition, giving long-lasting results. After this surgery, the patient must wear compression vests for added support and safety in the surgical area.

Typically, it is advised to wear compression vests 24 hours a day for the first 2 to 4 weeks after surgery, only taking them off for showering. After this stage, you may be advised to wear the compression garments for 3 to 4 weeks during the day. You can expect to wear the vest for about 4-8 weeks. These guidelines can vary based on the individual’s healing process, the extent of their surgery, and your surgeon’s protocol. In this blog, we’ll dive deeper into the procedure of this surgery, the advantages of wearing compression vests, their types, and how to choose a suitable one for yourself.

Procedure of Gynecomastia Surgery

Several key steps followed during Gynecomastia Surgery address the excess breast tissue and help you achieve a more masculine chest. During the procedure, your surgeon will make a 4-5 mm incision on your chest’s side, under the armpits and carefully remove the glandular tissue of the chest and excess fat. This strategy ensures that the incision scars always remain hidden. Advanced equipment like MicroAire, Vaser, and BodyTite also gives optimal and desired results. One notable advantage of this approach is that the scars on both sides of your chest are small and unnoticeable.

After the surgery, you will be monitored in a recovery area until you are stable. You will receive instructions on postoperative care, including wound care, activity restrictions, and follow-up appointments. Post-surgery, you must wear compression garments for 3-4 weeks to fasten your healing process and minimize the swelling in those areas. Compression garments play a significant role in gynecomastia surgery recovery. So, let’s learn more about them in detail.

What are Compression Vests?

A compression vest is also known as a surgical garment or compression garment. These are specialized garments designed to gently pressure and support your chest area after surgical procedures like gynecomastia surgery. They are made from elastic fabric and designed to fit around your chest. They provide compression to reduce swelling, promote healing, and support the surgical site. Just like in breast augmentation, patients wear a compression bra for several weeks to keep implants in position; these compression vests fasten the process of healing.

A compression garment usually has a three-dimensional stretch to provide support after your procedure and direct the fluid to be reabsorbed by your body. These garments come in different sizes, shapes, and forms of clothing according to your procedure and recovery from the surgery. But, before deciding on any one compression vest, take advice and suggestions from the best plastic surgeon in India to understand which vest type will suit you.

How Long Do You Need to Wear Compression Garments?

The suggested period of wearing a compression garment following gynecomastia surgery varies significantly based on your surgeon’s preference and the patient’s individual healing. However, it normally ranges from 4 to 6 weeks. Here’s an overview of what you may expect:

Initial Period (around 4 weeks): During the initial recovery period, you will most likely be instructed to wear the compression garment at all times except when showering or bathing. This continued wear reduces swelling and promotes healthy recovery.

Following Weeks (up to 2 weeks): After 4 weeks, your surgeon could recommend wearing the garment for 18-20 daily. You can take it off for longer periods during this time.

After 6 weeks, if your surgeon approves, you can permanently remove the compression garments.

What are the advantages of Wearing a Compression Garment?

Wearing a compression garment offers several advantages during the postoperative recovery period. Some of them are mentioned below:

1. Reduced Swelling

After gynecomastia surgery, swelling in the surgical area is normal because of incisions and inflammation. However, wearing compression garments can help reduce swelling by applying gentle yet consistent pressure to your chest area. This reduced swelling contributes to greater comfort since tightness is minimized.

2. Support and Stability

Compression garments support and stabilize your surgical site, ensuring optimal healing conditions. By gently compressing the treated area, these garments minimize the movements, reduce discomfort, and protect the delicate tissues. This support also helps maintain proper alignment of the surgical site and stabilize the affected area.

3. More Comfort

These vests offer enhanced comfort by providing a snug fit that reduces discomfort and provides a sense of security, specifically during strenuous activities. They gently support and stabilize the treated area, reducing swelling, bruising, or movement pain.

4. Reduce the risk of complications

Compression vests prevent postoperative complications by providing consistent pressure and support in the surgical areas. By applying gentle and firm compression, these garments minimize the risk of complications like preventing hematoma by reducing the chances of blood accumulation.

5. Minimize the Scars

These garments minimize the appearance of scars and promote optimal healing after your surgery by applying consistent pressure to the incision sites. This pressure flattens and softens the scar tissue, providing a smoother and less noticeable scar.

Types of Compression Vests

Various types of compression vests are available for individuals recovering from gynecomastia surgery, each offering specific benefits. These vests range from full-torso compression vests to open-chest vests. With a range of options available, you can choose the compression vest that best suits your needs and preferences, ensuring complete comfort and support.

A few of these specialized compression vests are explained below:

1. Full-Torso Compression Vests

These are like snug-fitting shirts that cover your upper body, including your chest, stomach, and back. They are designed to give strong support and squeeze your body gently after gynecomastia surgery, which helps with healing and reduces swelling. They are suggested for people who have had more complicated surgeries or multiple procedures done at once.

2. Open-Chest Compression Vests

Open-chest compression vests are like special tops with a hole in the middle where your chest is. They still give gentle pressure to the sides and lower part of your chest, which helps with healing and reducing swelling. But, because they have this opening, you don’t feel tight or stuffy in the middle of your chest.

3. Adjustable Compression Vests

These vests are like those you wear after surgery but have special straps or closures you can change. This means you can adjust how tight or loose your vest feels, making it fit perfectly with your body. So, if you’re feeling a bit swollen one day, you can loosen it, and if you need more support, you can tighten it back up.

4. Seamless Compression Garments

Consider seamless compression clothing, such as incredibly comfortable vests with smooth stitching and seams. It is nice that they feel so soft and gentle against your skin while you wear them, especially if you have sensitive skin or are concerned about irritation. Because nothing is meant to rub or scrape your skin, these vests are incredibly comfortable and ideal for wearing all day.

5. Compression Vests with Padding

These vests are like normal vests with extra cushioning around your chest area. They provide an additional layer of protection to help you feel more at ease following your surgery. At the initial stage after your surgery, your chest may feel a little sore or sensitive; these vests are quite helpful. They provide a sense of security and lessen the strain on surgical sites by acting as if you are wearing a soft, protective layer.

How to choose the right Compression Garment?

Since wearing a compression garment after your gynecomastia surgery has so many benefits, it is important to purchase a safe, effective, and comfortable compression vest. Ask yourself the following questions:

• How much fat needs to hide?
• What kind of material is this vest made of?
• What is the cost?
• Does it have flexibility?
• How much movement does it offer?

Now that you have answered these questions follow the below steps to choose the right compression garment after surgery:

1. Consult your surgeon: Discuss your needs and operation results with your surgeon and ask them to recommend a compression garment.
2. Think about coverage: Determine whether you want your vest to cover your full body or only the chest part.
3. Check comfort and fit: Choose the garment that fits snugly but not too tight. It should provide support without causing discomfort.
4. Breathable material: Choose a lightweight material that won’t irritate your skin. Avoid materials that are too thick or rigid.
5. Adjustable straps: If possible, opt for vests with adjustable straps so that you can customize the fit according to your comfort.
6. Padding: If you need additional protection or support, consider garments with padding in specific areas.

Conclusion

Understanding the duration of wearing compression vests after your gynecomastia surgery is essential for a successful recovery. Although it depends on the healing power of different individuals, it typically takes 2-3 months for patients to recover completely. Generally, most patients can expect to resume normal activities within a week after surgery, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for several weeks.

Different types of compression vests are available to suit your body’s requirements. It is important to consult with your surgeon about the procedure they will follow during your gynecomastia surgery and the type of compression garment you should wear to speed up your recovery process. You must follow your surgeon’s postoperative guidelines closely and attend all scheduled follow-up appointments to ensure a smooth recovery and optimal outcomes.

If you are suffering from gynecomastia and are looking for gynecomastia treatment, schedule your consultation with Dr Rajat Gupta, the best cosmetic surgeon in India and get your desired body shape.