MED
Recovery handbook

Twelve weeks.One schedule.Worn correctly.

A clinical-grade guide to wearing MED compression from day one through full return to routine — built from 230+ clinic practices.

RECOVERY GUIDE · CLINICAL EDITION
A clinical handbook

Recovery is a schedule. Wear the right garment, at the right hour, for the right phase.

This guide consolidates fourteen years of clinical evidence from over 230 surgical practices. It is a reference, not a replacement for your surgeon’s instructions — when in doubt, defer to the prescribing surgeon.

Twelve weeks

Five phases of recovery.

  1. 01Days 1–3

    Immediate post-op

    Class IIIWear 22 hrs/day
    • Garment worn continuously. Remove only for surgeon-approved cleansing.
    • Expect drainage, asymmetry and pronounced firmness — all expected.
    • Sleep elevated 30°. Hydrate aggressively. Walk short loops every 2 hours.
    • Do not adjust closures yourself. Your surgeon's office will reposition on day 2 follow-up.
  2. 02Week 1–2

    Tissue adherence

    Class III → IIWear 20 hrs/day
    • Skin will feel tight; bruising peaks around day 7 and begins resolving by day 10.
    • Begin manual lymphatic drainage (MLD) only if cleared by your surgeon.
    • Continue compression overnight. Switch to second garment for laundry rotation.
    • Mild itching is normal — never apply lotion under the garment.
  3. 03Week 3–4

    Edema resolution

    Class IIWear 18 hrs/day
    • Most external swelling resolves. Internal edema (deep) continues quietly.
    • You may begin light upper-body movement. No bending at the waist past 90°.
    • If your garment now feels loose, contact us for a sizing review — never wear a loose garment.
    • Photography for clinical follow-up is typically scheduled in this window.
  4. 04Week 5–6

    Return to routine

    Class II → IWear 12–14 hrs/day
    • Return to office work, light travel, and most non-impact exercise on surgeon's approval.
    • Day garment may transition to the maintenance class (I). Night compression continues.
    • Final fit assessment: your day-1 garment will be 8–15% looser. Many patients re-size here.
    • Scar care begins now. Silicone sheets or surgeon-prescribed serums only.
  5. 05Week 7–12

    Maintenance

    Class IWear 8–10 hrs/day
    • Wear daily during waking hours, optional overnight.
    • Most patients return to full athletic activity in week 8–9.
    • Skin will continue to tighten and adapt for up to 12 months. Compression accelerates this.
    • Save your acute-phase garments — they're often re-prescribed for travel or post-flight edema.
DO

Habits that compound.

  • Wear the garment as prescribed — 22 hours/day in week 1, no exceptions.
  • Walk short, slow loops every 2 hours during daylight.
  • Hydrate to 3 L/day for the first ten days. Edema resolves through urine.
  • Sleep with the head of the bed elevated 30° for the first two weeks.
  • Rotate two garments so one is always clean and dry.
  • Call your surgeon if you feel any sharp, asymmetric, or sudden pain.
DON’T

Habits that delay recovery.

  • Don't remove the garment for vanity, photographs, or comfort.
  • Don't fold or roll the garment edges — this creates pressure points.
  • Don't sit on hard surfaces for more than 20 minutes in the first ten days.
  • Don't apply lotion, oil or scar serum under the garment until week 4.
  • Don't bend forward at the waist past 90° for the first three weeks.
  • Don't fly long-haul for the first 14 days without explicit surgeon clearance.
Garment care

Treat it like a clinical device. It is.

SkinTex® fiber loses up to 30% of its compression if washed with detergent. Care matters.

01Hand wash only

Cold water, no detergent — use the MED-supplied gentle wash or unscented baby shampoo. 3 minutes max.

02Never wring

Press water out gently with a towel. Twisting damages the elastic memory of the fiber.

03Flat dry, no sun

Lay flat in a shaded room. Direct sun and dryer heat permanently reduce compression.

04Replace at week 6

Daily-wear garments retain clinical compression for ~42 days of continuous use. After that, the fit is comfort, not therapy.

Red flags

When to call your surgeon — not us.

Sharp, sudden, asymmetric pain that wasn't present an hour earlier.

Fever above 38.3°C (101°F) at any point past day 2.

Drainage that turns bright red, foul-smelling, or doubles in 24 hours.

Calf pain, swelling or warmth on one side — possible DVT, call immediately.

Shortness of breath, chest pain, or sustained heart rate above 110 bpm.

Skin breakdown, blistering, or open areas under the garment.

Need a fit check?

Our clinical team is one call away.

We work with your surgeon’s office for sizing, replacement, and post-op follow-up — 24-hour response.

Contact MED