Updated June 2026 · Reviewed by Salud Sharpstown’s fitting team · 20 years of post-surgical experience
Stage 1 high-support for 4–6 weeks — longer than lipo. Then Stage 2.
After a tummy tuck you need Stage 1 high-support compression for 4–6 weeks. It manages swelling and supports the abdominal repair while it heals — this is the procedure where rushing out of Stage 1 costs the most.
Incision lengths and garment cuts vary — a garment that sits wrong on the incision line is the most common self-bought mistake. A fitter matches the cut and length to your incision in person at Salud, free.
7500 Bellaire Blvd, Sharpstown · open daily 11am · walk in, free · 20 minutes
Weeks 0–4 · Stage 1
High-support compression, typically about 23 hours a day. Supports the muscle repair and keeps swelling controlled across the incision.
Week 4–6 · The switch
Tummy tuck stays in Stage 1 longer than lipo — don’t rush it. Switch when your surgeon clears you and Stage 1 reads loose.
Weeks 6–8+ · Stage 2
Medium compression shaped to your new waistline — daily-wear support while the result settles.
General timelines from 20 years of fitting — your surgeon’s post-operative protocol always comes first.
Ask a Colombian fitter · answered by Salud’s fitting team, 20 years
Faja vs. abdominal binder after a tummy tuck — which one?
They’re sequential, not rivals. The binder is the soft wrap many surgeons use for the first days; the faja is the structured compression you live in after it. Follow your surgeon’s transition timing — then get the faja fitted to your incision.
How long do I wear Stage 1 after a tummy tuck?
4–6 weeks for most women — noticeably longer than lipo’s 3. The muscle repair underneath needs the support. Your surgeon’s protocol always wins over any general timeline.
What length of faja do I need for my incision?
It depends on where your incision sits and whether you also had lipo on the flanks or back. Mid-thigh vs. knee-length vs. panty-length changes where the garment edge lands — which is exactly what the free fitting at Salud resolves in 20 minutes.
When can I move to Stage 2?
When two things are true: your surgeon clears you, and Stage 1 reads loose at its tightest setting. For tummy tuck that’s usually week 4–6. Salud checks the fit free if you’re unsure.
Can’t I just use a faja size chart and order online?
A chart sizes a body that holds still — yours won’t. After surgery your measurements change week to week as the swelling drops, and Stage 1 and Stage 2 are different sizes. A size chart can’t see your swelling or your surgeon’s plan; a Colombian fitter can — free, in about 20 minutes. Only order online if you truly can’t come in: Formera ships in 2–3 days.