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Garment Prescription

 

Please ensure your therapist follows the prescription strictly below, without appropriate garments your surgery will be rescheduled:

 

• Class 2 Flat knit

• Waist to toe, measured with a more relaxed fit around the ankle and foot please

• Fitted with Bathroom ease - zippers are preferable (open crotch is an option only if zips aren't possible)

• Organised 3-4 months before for fit & to factor in production

• Worn daily 4-6 weeks before to ensure comfort, soften the garment to lessen the risk of blisters, soften the adipose tissue and any fibrosis ready for surgery

 

Garment Providers:

 

Medi Australia Garments (preferred garment)

- Catalina 0477 447 751 will put in you in touch with a provider for NSW and ACT, or use the below therapists

-Axel 0494 045 389 (Surry Hills)

-Onccare Health 02 78136671 (Bella Vista, Parramatta & Frenches Forest)

-Kate and Cailtin (02) 4312 7033 (central coast)

-Kylie Bradley https://lymphmovementstudio.com.au/ 0421 756 329 (Parkside SA)

-Asha Ketteridge (Walkerville SA) T: 08 8342 9712 https://lymphoedema.com.au/

-Jennifer 0477 034 655 can put you in touch with a provider for QLD, VIC, WA, and other states

 

OAPL Juzo garments - Jenny 02 9319 1955 Sydney based (oapl.com.au/service/compression-therapy/)

 

Czsalus garments are NOT appropriate for surgical compression

 

Investing in your surgical outcome:

 

Custom made compression is the best option to fit your body perfectly, provide the correct medical compression (avoids a tourniquet effect) and can be made with bathroom ease. Custom garments will cost approximately $1000-$1500. Medi Australia have a buy one get one half price deal just for Dr Somia's patients.

This is a vital investment in your surgical journey. We want you to be as comfortable as possible, achieve the best possible results and above all reduce the risk of post operative complications. This can only be achieved with custom garments. Many patients spend more on off the shelf garments trying to find something that fits with little success.

Some patients require a re-measure after their swelling has started to subside (usually around the 6 week mark). It's important to note that your swelling will still reduce over the next 3-6 months. If you have a drastic reduction in swelling by week 6, this is a good time to be measured for the 2nd pair of compression. Not everyone needs to do this and can manage with the same compression for 12 weeks or so and at that point will get measured for more compression (size down a little).

 

How will I manage with just one garment?

 

This is a question we are asked often, some people opt to purchase two garments for surgery and this certainly makes laundering easier during your recovery. Sometimes buying two at once is not feasible for all though. If you have one garment we suggest that at shower time, have your support person put your garment on a fast cycle in the washing machine (or a quick hand wash). You can then put on whatever older or lighter compression you have or comfiwave thigh highs and sit in your pump for an hour or so whilst your compression is drying. It is not recommended to use a dryer for flat knit compression however, patients have reported using a cold or 'air' setting for their dryer and this has not caused any issues with their garments so far. The longevity may be compromised however we don't anticipate you needing these surgical garments for longer than 12 weeks before you need a new pair due to your body shape changing. Please use your own discretion and note that any garment warranty will be voided with the manufacturer should you have an issue with your garment if you've used the dryer.

 

Comfiwaves

 

This is completely optional. Comfiwaves by are great for long term use to manage lipoedema and are only used for sleeping. At 8-10 weeks post op, you are welcome to try and see how you feel switching to comfiwaves for your night time sleep. If you experience pain or discomfort whilst using them during the night, or wake to more swelling then it's a sign that it's too soon for you and you should resume with your flat knits for sleeping for a few more weeks before you try again. They make channels that help with fluid drainage whilst you sleep. You CAN pump in these as it really helps with any stubborn lower limb/ shin and ankle swelling to pump at night in these before bed. These are safe to put in the dryer and it can help them shrink down their original tightness.

If you have a therapist that can order these for you it is the best approach, otherwise you can self measure and purchase from here https://lymphshop.com.au/comfiwave-thigh-high/

 

Important: Without appropriate compression your surgery may be postponed.

 

"The majority of us with Lipoedema need custom made compression as we do not usually fit the 'standard' shape that off the shelf compression is designed for."

- Anonymous Lipoedema patient