Shapewear as a Prelude to Plastic Surgery

December 18, 2012

by Christine G. Adamo

Whether you’re waiting for liposuction or are still weighing your cosmetic plastic surgery options, here’s something that may interest you: shapewear. Body shaping underwear or clothing can give you a glimpse at how plastic surgery will reshape your body – almost a pre-surgery preview!

To help you get a handle on the sheer range of shapewear that’s out there, we turned to e-tailer BareNecessities.com. The website offers shapewear garments from dozens of manufacturers and has identified nine staples that most bodies can benefit from:

1. A tummy-trimming tank
2. A pair of shapewear leggings
3. A thong with muffin-top control
4. A WYOB* bodysuit with thigh control
5. A shapewear slip for a better dress fit
6. Waist, tummy and butt shaping panties
7. A high-waisted, slimming body shaper
8. A pair of thigh slimmers for with pants or skirts
9. Other slimming clothes (ex: shapewear tees & tops)

* WYOB = Wear Your Own Bra

While sometimes made of similar materials, shapewear and compression wear are NOT the same thing. Compression garments are worn after surgery to limit pain, swelling and movement as your body heals. Shapewear is worn like other foundation garments (bras, panties, etc.).

Liposuction, Plastic Surgery...and Spanx?

If you’re on LipoSite, you may have already scheduled liposuction or are looking for reliable information about liposuction and related plastic surgery procedures. Some of the most popular body contouring procedures are:

• liposuction
• tummy tuck 
• breast augmentation
• full body combination surgeries (i.e. mommy makeover)

Using shapewear to try on your plastic surgery options is one way to decide, prior to surgery, which procedures may best fit your body sculpting needs. Recently, Spanx and other big names – even Donna Karan – have developed ingenious and provocative shapewear designs.

Today’s body-slimming options include:

• Bustiers
• Thigh Slimmers
• WYOB Torsettes
• High-Waist Briefs
• Padded Underwear
• Half Slips and Full Slips
• Camisoles and Tank Tops

Want a flatter tummy? High-waist briefs help cut out the middle man. Want more cleavage, too? Buy a padded camisole or tank that slenderizes your midsection, too. Want some more junk in your trunk? Add a pair of padded underwear to your shopping list!

Where to Find Shapewear and What to Look For

With shapewear, there are a number of places you can look. A few include:

• BareNecessities.com – from Assets to Yummie Tummie and plus sizes
• Spanx.com – for medium, super or “super-duper” slimming effects
• Maidenform.com – offering the Flexees and Control It! product lines
• HerRoom.com – search by style, type, control level, brand or size
• Shapewear.com – for basic shapewear tips and recommendations

What you’re looking for may vary based on whether you want to minimize or maximize your assets. Do you want leaner-looking thighs? Or an amped up butt? Whatever your needs, there are factors which affect fit and wearability that you want to pay attention to:

• Fabrics – spandex and microfiber are common and very lightweight
• Sizing – go for a comfortable fit and, if needed, explore plus sizes
• Construction – find stay-put edges that don’t cut into skin
• Color – go beyond beige to explore pink, black, lace, etc.
• Control Level – “1” typically offers the least control

Even Dr. Robert Rey, of Dr. 90201, offers a line of shapewear. Dr. Rey teamed with a designer to create garments said to decrease a woman’s silhouette up to 5 inches. While that’s impressive, shapewear offers only temporary results. The results from cosmetic plastic surgery, such as liposuction or tummy tuck, are much longer lasting.

For a great look in or out of clothes, consult with an experienced plastic surgeon. His or her goal should be to guide you to the right procedure(s) for your body type, lifestyle and interests. Search LipoSite for a list of board certified plastic surgeons near you. 

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