Post-Op Hacks I Swear By
Recovery is expensive enough. You already bought the faja, the foam, the board, and half of Amazon. So when something isn't working, the last thing you want is to buy another thing.
Oye, comadre (my girl), these are the little tricks I've been sharing with clients for years. Most of them use stuff you already have.
Post-op hacks: the quick answer
My favorite post-op hacks are cheap, simple, and mostly about compression, comfort, and keeping things clean: a folded maxi pad for spot compression, a folded chux pad instead of a back board, inside-out camisoles, a string on your faja zipper, and faja extenders instead of a brand-new faja.
Así de fácil: that easy.
Compression hacks
A folded maxi pad for spot compression. Got a stubborn swollen or firm spot? Fold a maxi pad, sticky side tucked in, and slip it under your faja right over that area. It works like a spot-compression pad for a fraction of the price.
A folded chux pad instead of a back board. Back boards slide around for a lot of people. Fold a puppy pad (chux pad) to size and lay it flat across your back or over your lower back and tailbone. It's soft, cheap, and it stays put.
Paper tape to hold your DIY pads in place. If your folded pad or foam keeps shifting, a little medical paper tape can help it hold its shape. Keep it on the pad or your camisole, not on fresh incisions.
Faja hacks
Wear your camisole inside-out. The seams face out, away from your skin, so they don't press lines into swollen tissue. Same goes for maxi pads you use for leaking: put them on inside-out so the soft side touches your skin.
Tie a string on your faja zipper. When you can't twist or reach behind you, a loop of string or ribbon on the zipper pull makes it so much easier to zip up or down on your own.
Use faja extenders before buying a new faja. If your faja is too tight in the ribs or hips, hook-and-eye extenders can buy you room for a few dollars. ¡Qué buena idea! What a good idea, right?
Cleaning hacks
Zote soap for stains. Drainage on your faja, sheets, or pajamas? A bar of Zote laundry soap works great on those stains. Hand wash, rinse in cool water, and air dry your faja.
Chux pads everywhere. Bed, couch, car seat. If you're leaking, you'll be glad you did.
Bathroom hacks
A red Solo cup. If you can't sit after a BBL, a wide cup works better than most narrow funnels.
TravelJane pouches in your car. For emergencies, they turn urine into a gel. I keep them in my car.
A bidet attachment. Set it up before surgery, and you may not need a wiping wand at all.
Home setup hacks
Set everything at hip level. You won't want to bend down to the floor or reach above your head. Toiletries, towels, fresh pads, and clothes should all be at counter height.
Make a rolling cart station. Keep it right next to your bed or recliner with your meds, lip balm, snacks, gauze, and a water bottle.
Get an extra-long phone charger and bendy straws. You'll thank me when you're stuck in one position and can't reach the outlet or sit up to drink.
What I tell my clients: set up your home before surgery. Punto: period. You won't have the energy once you're home.
Here's your chisme for today: practice your bathroom setup, your zipper string, and your cart station before surgery day. Recovery goes so much smoother when you already know where everything is.
When a hack isn't enough
Ojo, watch out: hacks are for comfort, not for medical problems. Call your surgeon if you have numbness or tingling that doesn't go away when you loosen your faja, skin that turns pale, blue, or mottled, a hot, red, or painful spot, a soft, sloshy pocket of fluid, or a fever. If it feels like an emergency, call 911.
Want the full list?
Every product I recommend, with honest notes on each, is in my full shopping list.
For the full recovery game plan, week by week:
If you're in Sacramento and want hands-on help with your recovery, I'd love to see you.
Not local? Reach out to me for a private consult over Zoom (small fee).
I'm a Certified Massage Therapist (CAMTC No. 39170), not a doctor. This post is for education, not medical advice. Always follow your surgeon's instructions. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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