10 tips for choosing a postoperative bandage

Popular vote - which brand offers the best post-op bandages?
Vote!

Unga

Ecoten

Trives

Orlette

Crate

Total voted: 0

Vote results

Postoperative bandages are designed to fix the chest or abdominal cavity after surgery. They reliably fix the muscles weakened by the operation, relieve the load from them, accelerating healing and relieving pain.In some cases, bandages of this type are recommended to be used after childbirth in order to quickly remove the belly stretched by pregnancy.

According to their design features, bandages can be divided into several types. Which one to choose depends on the purpose of wearing this product, the characteristics of the postoperative period and the recommendations of the attending physician.

Bandage belt - the most popular and common option. It is easy to take off and put on, can be adjusted in size within acceptable values. There are special models for patients after hernia surgery, as well as for people with an ostomy.

Bandage briefs or bandage shorts - a convenient option, especially for women after gynecological operations. Such models provide the necessary comfort and a sufficient level of support.

Bandage top or a T-shirt is recommended for operations on the chest or mammary glands.

The issue of choosing the right size bandage is extremely important, although it has its own nuances. Going to a pharmacy or an orthopedic salon, you need to make basic measurements of your body - waist, hips, chest, the highest point of the chest. Then we simply compare the results of measurements with the information on the packaging of the bandage and choose the appropriate option.

It is worth remembering that each manufacturer has its own size chart. Someone labels products according to the same principle as clothes - XS, S, M, L, others use digital designations - 1, 2, 3. There are other options, so before buying, you need to carefully study the information about the dimensional grid and recommendations the manufacturer of your choice.

When determining the size of the bandage-belt, it is also worth considering not only the girth of the chest, waist or hips, but also the height of the product.It is chosen in such a way that the belt completely covers the postoperative area. Ideally, there should be at least 5 cm from the edge of the seams to the borders of the bandage at the top and bottom.

Most bandages on the market are made from a combination of several materials. Usually the composition contains cotton, viscose, elastane, latex and lycra. There are no completely cotton or viscose bandages; artificial fibers are certainly added to the composition to increase elasticity and wear resistance. In order for the product to breathe, many manufacturers use material with small holes that provide the necessary level of ventilation. Hypoallergenicity and breathability are important components of the comfortable wearing of the brace.

To fix the bandage on the body, manufacturers equip them with several types of fasteners. Each of them has its own characteristics.

Velcro or velcro - on the one hand, they are not very durable, because over time, they begin to fix worse, but for a period of 2-3 weeks, during which it is usually necessary to wear a bandage, they should be enough. The main advantage of fasteners of this type is the ability to adjust the degree of fixation and a small change in size.

Hooks - provide the most rigid fixation, which is good in some cases, but bad in others. Usually such fasteners are arranged in 2-3 rows so that a person can choose the most comfortable position. When wearing, the hooks are not always comfortable, because. may cause discomfort.

Lacing - is used more often in bandages for the ankle joints, less often in postoperative ones. This type of fastener cannot be called convenient, but from the point of view of practicality, it is very good. Thanks to the adjustable lacing, you can adjust the bandage to your figure as accurately as possible.

In some cases, combinations of two types of fasteners are used, for example, hooks and Velcro.

In the description of individual models of bandages, an antibacterial layer is mentioned, which should reduce the risk of infection of the postoperative wound. Such products are equipped with inserts made of special fabric with antimicrobial impregnation, they are recommended to be worn directly on the body. Also, manufacturers of bandages, the material of which contains silver threads, speak of additional antibacterial properties.

How expedient the purchase of the first option is, the doctor should decide based on the indications and characteristics of the operation performed. The second option is more of a marketing ploy, there will definitely not be any harm from it, but whether there is any benefit is also difficult to judge unambiguously.

Some of the bandages recommended for use in the postoperative period are equipped with stiffeners that help the product retain its shape and fit more closely to the body. Most often they are used in models for the lumbosacral spine, less often after abdominal surgery or after pregnancy.

Stiffening ribs are made of metal or plastic. From the point of view of functionality, there is no difference, but in terms of comfort, the second option is better.

In pharmacies and orthopedic salons, you can find bandages of different brands. Most of them are well-known and more or less well-known.

"Unga" - a popular brand owned by the Tonus medical products factory. The products offered by him are developed with the participation of specialists from the Institute of Surgery. A. V. Vishnevsky RAMS. The technologies used by the plant are patented and are not inferior to foreign ones.

"Trives" is another Russian brand that has been producing medical products for various purposes, including bandages, for 30 years. Products are manufactured in-house using safe and modern materials.

Brand Orlette belongs to the Rehard Technologies GmbH group of companies from Germany. In Russia, its products are sold both through official online stores and through numerous intermediaries. Goods, including postoperative bandages, are very popular, although they are not cheap.

Caesarean section has long been a common operation with a relatively short recovery period. But in order for everything to go smoothly during the rehabilitation process, it is important to use a properly selected bandage at this time.

After a caesarean, a bandage is suitable both in the form of a belt, and a model of panties or shorts. The size must match the parameters of the body.The bandage should not cause discomfort, but also be too loose. Ideally, if the size of the product can be adjusted using Velcro or other type of fasteners.

In preparation for the operation, I would like to purchase everything necessary in the postoperative period in advance, but in the case of a bandage, this is not recommended. Since it is important to purchase a product strictly according to the size of the body, and many people lose weight before surgery due to stress, the bandage may be large. There is also always a risk that during the course of the operation her plan will be changed and the recommendations regarding the desired restraint product too.

The period of use of the bandage in most cases is limited to 10-14 days. Given that it is used for several hours a day, the product wears out little. On special sites on the Internet it will not be difficult to buy a used bandage. You can also find a used product in a circle of friends and acquaintances.

There is even a used bandage that visually looks like new and fits in all respects, it is not recommended to reuse it. Firstly, the product belongs to the category of individual, and its use after another person is simply not hygienic. Secondly, in the process of wearing, the bandage is still stretched, taking the shape of the owner's body. Sometimes visually it is imperceptible, but there are definitely changes.

Even your own bandage, bought earlier and used in the previous postoperative period, is not recommended to be worn again, because. its effect may be insufficient.