When I first woke up from surgery, I was groggy, freezing, and already in a faja. At that point, you’re not really thinking about it, you’re just trying to process everything your body just went through.
But within the first couple of days, I quickly realized how important the right faja after tummy tuck or lipo actually is.
The Swelling Is No Joke
I was extremely swollen, and not just in one area, I mean everywhere.
My stomach, hips, lower back, even parts of my butt were so swollen it honestly looked like I had a BBL. I did not get a BBL, that was completely swelling, mainly at the top of my butt. And yes, even my lady parts were swollen too, which no one really prepares you for.
Now I do want to say this, not everyone swells the same. Every body is different. Some people have minimal swelling, while others, like me, experience a lot of it.
That level of swelling can make it really hard to know what size you actually need, because your body is constantly changing day by day.
It can also mess with your mind more than people talk about. There were moments where I was like, “what did I do?” just because everything looked and felt so different from all the swelling.
But don’t worry, it does get better. As the swelling goes down, you start to see your results and feel more like yourself again.
My Faja Size Progression (And How Fast It Changed)
Right after surgery, I was placed in a 2XL faja.
At my first follow-up, when I went in to get my drains removed, I told the nurse it already felt loose. She checked and agreed.
They added foam pads inside the faja to tighten compression and help reduce swelling, which made a big difference. I also purchased an XL at the office to start sizing down.
By the time I got home from Miami, that XL was already starting to feel loose too.
I knew it was time to size down because:
- It started folding over in the back
- I could latch it on the last row by myself
- In the beginning, I needed help from the nurses or my husband to get it on
After talking to my massage therapist, she recommended a faja from Amazon, so I ordered a large. Then I also ordered a medium and small because she told me I would size down quickly.
I didn’t believe her at first because I was still so swollen, but she was right.
I went through sizes faster than I expected:
2XL → XL → Large → Medium → Small
Right now I’m in a small, and still debating if I’ll need an extra small.
Foam Pads & Longer-Term Swelling
One thing that really helped me, and that I’m still doing, is wearing foam pads inside my faja.
I’m going on 11 weeks post-op, and I still wear them because they help with swelling and give me better, more even compression.
Everyone is different, but for me, they’ve made a noticeable difference.
How Tight Should a Faja Be?
When I first wore my Tributo Faja, I immediately felt the sides digging into my incision, so I took it off right away.
My nurse told me something really helpful:
If you can’t slide your hand into the front of your faja, it’s too tight.
Other signs it may be too tight:
- Sharp pain or excessive pressure
- Numbness or tingling
- Digging into your incision
- Trouble breathing
What I Learned (Don’t Waste Your Money)
One of my biggest lessons… expensive does not mean better.
The Tributo Faja was a complete disappointment for me.
- Dug into my tummy tuck scar
- Extremely hard to get on
- Paid extra for a zipper that doesn’t go all the way up
- Front flap constantly pops open when sitting or walking
- No way to secure it
For around $260, it was not worth it.
Meanwhile, the $40 fajas from Amazon were more comfortable, easier to use, and honestly worked better for my recovery.
How Many Fajas Do You Need After Surgery?
This depends on your body, but for me… one is not enough.
I ended up needing multiple sizes and rotating between them.
In the beginning, I had some drainage and wanted to keep everything clean, so having more than one was necessary. I could wash one while wearing another.
Buying one from the doctor’s office also helped because they guided me on sizing.
Wearing a Faja Daily (The Reality)
I wear my faja all day, every day, except for about an hour to shower.
Once I take it off:
- I throw the used one in the wash
- Dry off
- Massage my sides
- Apply vitamin E
- Put on a clean one
Then it’s right back on, even when I sleep.
You might think before surgery that you won’t want to wear it because it seems uncomfortable… but after surgery, it actually helps a lot.
There were times I had it off and felt like I might bust a stitch or something. You start to rely on it because it gives you that support.
Without it, I honestly felt a little… not safe.
Lastly, Remember
- Not everyone swells the same
- Your size will change quickly
- Foam pads can help even weeks later
- Have multiple fajas to rotate
- Don’t assume expensive is better
- Listen to your body and your surgeon
If you’re in that swollen stage wondering if you made the right decision, just know that phase doesn’t last forever.
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Sandra & Art Araiza
The Araizas Real Estate Team
Serving Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa & Peoria
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