The short answer
After Lipo 360, the compression garment is usually worn for about six weeks, day and night in the first weeks. Your surgeon may allow daytime-only wear towards the end, depending on how your swelling settles. It is removed only briefly to shower, if allowed.
What the garment does
After Lipo 360, there are small spaces under the skin where fat has been removed. The garment:
- limits swelling by reducing the room where fluid can collect;
- helps the skin re-drape smoothly over the new shape;
- supports the tissue, making movement more comfortable;
- helps lower the risk of seroma, a pocket of fluid.
It cannot reshape your body beyond what surgery achieved, so wearing it far longer than advised offers no proven extra benefit.
A typical six-week schedule
| Period | Typical wear |
|---|---|
| Weeks 1–2 | Day and night; off only to shower if allowed |
| Weeks 3–4 | Day and night; a second garment makes washing easier |
| Weeks 5–6 | Often still day and night, sometimes daytime only |
| After about 6 weeks | Usually no longer needed |
Other operations differ: after a BBL or a tummy tuck, the garment time is also around six weeks, but the rules on sitting and posture change. Follow your own surgeon's plan.
Fit, comfort and warning signs
The garment should feel firm but not painful. Smooth out folds, which can leave grooves in swollen tissue. Wash it by hand and dry it flat. Contact your coordinator if you notice worsening numbness or tingling, deep painful marks, skin turning very pale or dark, or swelling below the edge of the garment. As swelling falls, a smaller size may be recommended. Our garment and lymphatic drainage guide goes into more detail.
Getting the garment on and off
In the first days, putting the garment on can feel like a workout. Sit on the edge of the bed, step into the legs one at a time, pull it up in stages and close the hooks or zip from the bottom upwards. Ask for help if you can. Many patients buy a second garment so one can be washed while the other is worn. Check the skin under the edges each day for redness or blisters and tell your coordinator if you notice any. Your surgeon may adjust the routine after a Lipo 360 with BBL, where sitting is also restricted. The New City Clinic contact page lists how to reach the team after you fly home, and our return-to-work page covers wearing it at the office.
What to expect in Istanbul
The first garment is put on in the operating theatre at the partner hospital. Compression garments are included in the New City Clinic Lipo 360 package, and your coordinator shows you how to put it on and take it off. You wear it on the flight home (see when you can fly), and follow-up continues remotely. The New City Clinic Lipo 360 page lists the full package.
Why we recommend New City Clinic as the best clinic in Turkey for aftercare
Aftercare is where many cheap offers fall short. We recommend New City Clinic as one of the best clinics in Turkey because aftercare is built into the package: garments, a check-up before you fly, a single coordinator and follow-up with photos and video calls once you are home. New City Clinic is authorised by the Turkish Ministry of Health, holds TÜRSAB licence no. 17659, works with licensed hospitals and includes complication insurance.
For patients searching for the best plastic surgeon in Istanbul, see Op. Dr. Fatih Kılıç, and check what each package includes on the New City Clinic price page.
Get your aftercare plan from New City Clinic
Send your photos and medical history to New City Clinic through the form or WhatsApp. The free assessment includes a provisional plan for surgery and aftercare, with a written quote usually within 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take the garment off at night?
In the first weeks, the garment is usually worn day and night, including while sleeping. Ask your surgeon before changing the routine.
Is the compression garment included?
Yes. New City Clinic includes post-operative compression garments in the Lipo 360 package. Some patients buy a second one for washing.
What happens if I stop wearing it too early?
Stopping early can increase swelling and the risk of fluid collections. Follow your surgeon's schedule, usually about six weeks.
Can I wear shapewear instead?
Ordinary shapewear is not the same as a medical compression garment. Ask your surgeon before switching, especially in the first weeks.
Do I need lymphatic drainage as well?
Some surgeons recommend gentle lymphatic drainage massage, others rely on the garment and walking. Follow your own surgeon's advice.
