Crotchless Garment Issues

Hi all! I am 8 days post LBL and have a question about this wonderful crotchess compression garment (I DID check through the archives first, Renee! LOL). For the most part, it's not TOO uncomfortable, however, since it is crotchless, it seems as though the entire pubic area is swollen right through the opening and it is cutting into the creases of my thighs. I mentioned to my nurse this morning that I was tempted to take a pair of scissors to it to make it a tad more comfortable and she said that she has seen quite a few women do exactly that. My question, for those of you who have actually done this, is HOW do I snip it? Would I make a "cross" type snip in the sides of the opening to loosen it just a little? Would I lengthen the original openings at the top and back? The little snip in the sides makes the most sense to me, but I wanted to get some feedback before taking the shears to it. My doc doesn't do a 2nd stage garment, it's this one for the first six to eight weeks, so I NEED it to be comfortable in the the pubic area. Thanks for all of your help! Lisa

i cut along the edges so that the crotchless part is, i guess, wider? lately though i have taken to wearing compression shorts because i felt like (since i made it wider) the pelvic/mons area wasn't getting any compression and was getting really swollen. that has been pretty comfortable. i am just wearing a regular store-bought compresison shorts (i think they are from "barely there")

Thanks, Andrea - that's what I thought might work better, also. Not to be too graphic, but it's the lower "lips" area that is bulging out and is really uncomfortable. THAT to me is just the last straw -- LOL -- I can deal with the drains, I can deal with the horrible tightness of the thing, but to be totally hanging loose, swollen, and uncomfortable in that area is just too much for me. Like I said earlier, when I asked my surgeon about a 2nd stage garment, he essentially said that it's a waste of money, that the 1st stage is the better garment and he wanted me to wear this one for at least six weeks. From there I can go to a regular store-bought one or none at all -- my choice in comfort he said. Thanks! Lisa

Lisa, I am post op from a LBL, vertical thighplasty and BL/BA w implants 4 weeks. I had the exact same issue as you and did not want to cut the garment as that wiould definately impact the compression component. What I did that worked was to take gauze 4x4's and kind of pad the area so it held everything in. I did find that after a few days the swelling in that area went down a bit and it was not as uncomfortable. The only other thing is to ensure you have the entire garment pulled up high enough. I tried to pull it up an extra inch or two so that the crotchless part was exactly where it was supposed to be. I am still wearing mine and I am just as excited as you to be rid of it soon. good luck Lisa

I tried the 4x4's last night -- thanks for the suggestion. It didn't help much with the "squeezed out" feeling, although I didn't feel as thought I was just all hanging out. I definitely have the garment high enough; I'm very short waisted and actually have the upper band doubled over on the doc's suggestion, which is not comfortable, either. I still have my drains in, so the extra panties or support garment isn't feasible, but I'll suffer through the next week and give it a try when these come out.

Lisa, The compression garments are medically callibrated to make sure you are getting the correct amount of pressure depending on surface area. I agree with the other poster, if you cut it, you most likely will compromise the integrity of the garment which could result in you swelling more in that area (and others) which is what you want to avoid. I know you mentioned it to your nurse and she didn't tell you "no", but you may want to make absolutely certain your doc knows what your doing. Good Luck, Jackie

whoah i just wrote a whole message, it said it was posted, but then its not here. weird. anyway, i actually am wearing the store-bought compression shorts on TOP of the surgical garment because i know the compression is better and it also goes lower on to the knees and higher up the waist. by wearing both over each other, everything is held in tight and pretty comfortable. it is complicated, but it works....i also really don't like that whole "hanging out" feeling....

When I had to wear a 1st stage crotchless garment after my LBL last September, one of the nurses told me there would likely be an issue down there. She explained that because of all the compression, fluid looks for an escape anywhere it can. That opening becomes a very likely candidate. She suggested I find a good pair of very firm hold briefs to wear over the compression garment to help hold that area up and in. What worked for me was a pair of TC Fine Shapewear Ultimate Control No Ride Briefs. When it was time for something 2nd stage I ultimately settled on a high waist extra firm control shaper by the same company. I'm in one right now because of liposuction that was done about 5 weeks ago at the same time as my BL/BA and arms. Beth

Did you wear this after your drains came out? I can't imagine putting anything over the drains right now -- I have four of them, all of them exiting through the crotchless part of the garment. Thanks for your input!

My PS put me into a stretchy gauze thing, and pulled my drains out at 1 week. He told me to buy a girdle. I bought one at walmart. That is what he has me in. There was a binder, but the 3 - 11 nurse claimed it wouldn't fit, but she never tried to put it one me. (She was a joke........... but that is another story.) The girdle thing works ok with me, because I can put on my dressing, and underwear over them, then pull on the girdle. I bought the curvation thing, that had hook and eyes for the waist area. Different PS do different things............. but so far, this seems to be working for me. Good luck. natalie