BraceAbility Medical Abdominal Stomach Binder - Belly Band Compression for Diastasis Recti, Postpartum, Post-Surgical Wrap for Tummy Tuck Recovery, Post op Abdominal Binder for Women and Men (XL 12")

The BraceAbility Plus Size Abdominal Binder is fantastic for post-surgery recovery, especially after a C-section. It provides gentle compression to help reduce swelling and support your abdomen as you heal. Comfortable and easy to wear, this binder is a great choice for helping your body feel more supported and secure during recovery.

I was placed in a surgical binder post gastric bypass but struggled to sit in the one I was sent home in. I kept pulling it up or down to make it more comfortable. I ordered this binder based on the width. Am I glad I did! This has made my recovery go smoothly and allows me to sit more comfortably. I would highly recommend this for anyone who is looking for the support a binder offers, but needs a bit more coverage for a larger belly size. This binder offers a medium to firm compression. Not so tight it’s uncomfortable, but tight enough it offers the support needed.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I purchased this as a post operative abdominal band. I have a surgical incision that is approximately 12" long that starts 3 inches above my naval and runs down just above my pubic region. I have had 3 surgeries in the last 3 years. First was a colon resection and then a hernia repair and small bowel resection. I am no stranger to abdominal bands. I also **do not** wear this band over the top of clothes as pictured. I guess some might wear it as pictured around the house. A stroll in public wearing it as pictured would just be silly.In my honest opinion no one is making a 5 star abdominal band at this time. This band is as close as I have come to finding the perfect post surgical abdominal band.Let me start with the pros:- The fabric on this band does breathe. I have not gotten sweaty wearing this band even in high humidity and hot summer temps. I am not sure how wearing as pictured over the top of clothes would impact how the band would breathe or if you would get sweaty.- The material, sewing, and velcro on the band are of high quality and it appears to be made to last.- The band is fully adjustable to fit a maximum hip/waist measurement of 62" down to as small as you need it to be thanks to the way the velcro anchors to the band. This is not true with all velcro closure abdominal bands.- The band is machine washable and cleans up nice.Here on the slight cons with this abdominal band:- The backing of the band that would come in contact with your skin is *not* soft. If you are using this as a post surgical abdominal band *and* are not wearing clothing between you and the band, you will want to hold off using this band until all sutures and staples have been removed and all incisions are healed up.- I have tried a number of abdominal bands from different manufactures and different widths (both 9" and 12"). They **ALL** curl up and/or roll down defeating the purpose of wearing the band and making it very uncomfortable. Oddly enough, the 9" abdominal bands are more prone to curling up or rolling down. The BraceAbility band does it less that the others I have worn but it still happens.In summary, I give this abdominal band 4 stars. Quality material, strong velcro, and excellent stitching makes for a good abdominal band out of the package. There are 2 improvements that BraceAbility could make that would take this from a 4 star abdominal band to a 5 star abdominal band:1 - Add a soft/plush panel of material on the back side of the band facing the skin to increase comfort.2 - Sew in pockets and add *removable* plastic staves on the sides and back of the band to prevent curling and roll up.

I really had high hopes. Yes, I googled these 'support devices' and read up as much as I could. I also read plenty of reviews on this product and others similar to it. I really had high hopes that this would help with old age lady belly sag. I tried the 9 inch version that I could buy locally, which was a laugh. So, I bought this 12 inch version. What an ordeal. I tried several times to get it setting just right so I could pull the velcro binding over and fasten it. It catches on everything and just rips the material apart. I had to have my husband help me fasten it, and he's like a buffalo in a china shop just throwing me and the binder around trying to get things to line up and attach. Once we finally got everything to line up and fasten, it felt pretty darn good, holding everything in, and I could still breathe and bend over. Going to the bathroom is impossible with this on. You have to drag your underwear out from under it (remember, old lady=granny panties) to use the loo, then you have to try to stuff the panties back under it and reach through it to drag them back up into place without getting a wedgie. After a couple hours though, the binder is rolling up over my hips, or rolling down and digging into my waistline and tearing my skin. I tried again the next 3 days, with Mr. Buffalo's help, and each day it was worse. This thing does not have any type of vertical support to keep it from rolling on your body and it continues to roll no matter how tight or loose you apply it. Plus the fact that is has bionic velcro that rips apart the material so badly when prying it off that you cannot attach it in the same place twice. The surface now looks like a fleece blanket, all fuzzy and stringey. If it was maybe another 3-4 inches taller, it might get above or below some of the 'extra padding' and not be so apt to roll on the torso. This was not a good use of my money and I will not be purchasing again.

This belly band has been a game changer for managing my hernia. It provides the right amount of compression to keep everything in place, so after a long day on my feet, I’m not dealing with nearly as much pain in my stomach region.The material is comfortable, durable, and stretches well, making it easy to wear for extended periods. The Velcro holds securely, so I never have to worry about it slipping or loosening throughout the day. It provides firm support without feeling too restrictive, which is exactly what I was looking for.If you need a reliable hernia support belt, I highly recommend this one. It’s made a huge difference in my daily comfort, and I wouldn’t want to go without it!