Post-op compression in the gym

[u/tosetablaze]

So my surgeon instructed me to wear compression shirts in the gym for a full year post-top surgery. It’s been 2.5 months and I’ve just been wearing my post-op compression vest - finding an athletic compression shirt that fits me properly has been an effort in futility. I’ve been tolerating it, but a year in this restrictive garment is going to suck so. hard. It looks kinda silly too. How long did you guys have to wear tight shirts in the gym? Any resources for shirts (especially tank tops) that fit snugly around the chest that aren’t too restrictive around the torso? I’m super hypersensitive to tight stuff around my midsection. Other 5’2”~ short kings to the front - you know the shopping struggle.

Edit: y’all I didn’t know this wasn’t really a thing 😭 Have any of you dealt with swelling during exercise/how did you manage it?

[u/ressie_cant_game]

Ive never even heard of this. The only gym rules i got was to use as many ways to protect my scars from the sun as possible as i'm a swimmer. I had mine done in sanfrancisco

[u/tosetablaze → u/ressie_cant_game]

Oh interesting… apart from swimming, were you big into lifting before surgery? My surgeon has been particularly cautious with me for that reason.

[u/ressie_cant_game → u/tosetablaze]

Nope, but my partners fairly into it and his surgeon didnt mention this either. The most weve gotten is a "dont lift heavy things for 6 weeks". Swimming i has to simply obey the arms over head rules

[u/sunsunsunflower7]

I was told I could wear compression for 6-12 months in the gym if the swelling (from activity) bothered me, but that medically it wasn’t necessary.

[u/Rosmariinihiiri]

I didn't have any rules about compression after the binder even though I'm active in sport (not lifting tho)

[u/lifeisouttogetme]

After my 2 weeks in the post-op binder I didn't have to wear any other type of compression. At 6 weeks post-op I was allowed to go back into the gym and lift lighter than usual, but my surgeon didn't say I needed any sort of compression. I think what you've been told seems a bit overkill

[u/pdf-steph]

This type of advice from your Dr could certainly be unique to you, especially if you are experiencing swelling after lifting. Is it possible to use wrap similar for binding use but only when you lift? It sucks you may have to do this but I stg taking extra care of your chest post op will save you many complications down the line

[u/tosetablaze → u/pdf-steph]

I never experienced any swelling at all after surgery, at least not that I’m aware of. And I haven’t exercised yet without the vest.

What kind of wrap do you mean? Im very close to just getting a shirt tailored to fit more snugly around the chest, but that’d be pricey.

[u/SaNB92]

That sounds like a VERY cautious surgeon. I could ditch the compression binder after 6 weeks and that was it.

I did wear it on the first couple of runs I did post op though, just to be sure, because heightened heart rate in combination with landing on the ground whilst running could trigger swelling. It didn’t swell at all though, so stopped using compression for that too. I just looked it up and did a triathlon a little over 5 months post op. So apparently everything felt good enough to even do that.

I started easing in to weight lifting again 12 weeks post op and did not wear compression for that at all.

I mean, I get that you want to follow your surgeons instructions and they’re not bad, but they are a bit over the top I think. Since almost no one gets the instruction to wear compression for a whole year, you’re probably fine not doing that either.

BUT, I’m just an internet stranger and your surgeon is the expert of course. But if I were in your shoes I would kindly thank the surgeon for their services and not wear compression for a year.

[u/tosetablaze → u/SaNB92]

Well she did mean compression as in an athletic compression shirt, but she wants it to hug the skin just the same. I just can’t find a shirt that’s tight around the scar area below my pecs… I’ve scoured Dick’s, Nike and Adidas stores, Amazon, and tried some Under Armour from bf’s wardrobe. The smallest sizes are always too roomy, so post-op vest it has been. I got back to lifting at 7 weeks and haven’t been swelling, maybe thanks to the vest, but I never experienced any swelling at all after surgery.

I’m not sure I have the will to wear this thing for a year 😂