• • • schedule your post-op massages AT LEAST a month in advance
    • buy a stage 1, if not provided by surgeon. The below are popular Colombian fajas that can be worn as stage 1 and later converted to a true stage 2 through alterations. Order based on your hip measurement + 4″ if you’re getting a BBL. Otherwise you can order according to your hip measurement.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  • 1-2 weeks before surgery, buy stage 2 (BROWSE COLOMBIAN STAGE 2 OPTIONS IN MY AMAZON SHOP HERE)
  • buy multi-pack of foams – aside from fajas this is one of thee most important post-op supplies (Amazon link to the ones I used)
  • BUY anti-bacterial body wash. small A bottle is enough – You only need it pre-op and up to 1 week post-op (anti-bacterial body wash on Amazon)
  • meal-prep such as chicken-noodle soup, tomato soup, shakes, etc. I drank these protein shakes while i had zero appetite after my first round:

• begin taking probiotic yogurt or yogurt drink starting 2 weeks pre-op to make going #2 post-op a breeze. I like the Activia brand probiotic yogurt drinks – you can find those in all major grocery stores. If you don’t take probiotics you can easily be constipated for up to a week after surgery due to the general anesthesia medications still in your system.
• prepare tank tops, stretchy underwear, ROBE, STRETCHY PANTS, ETC. to wear post-op
• your period will likely be triggered to start early after sx; have pads/tampons ready -> IT’LL BE HARD TO CLEAN YOURSELF SO I RECOMMEND TAMPONS OR MENSTRUAL DISKS/DIVA CUPS
• fill your prescriptions, buy extra strength tylenol & put BY YOUR RECOVERY BED
• if you will have surgical drains (ASK YOUR SURGEON!), look up 2-3 videos of how to empty them properly on YouTube
• BBL patients: also buy icy hot for those knees & elbows! (here’s some available on Amazon)
• if recovering at home, prepare your bed (use a $2 Walmart shower liner to protect your mattress if you won’t have any surgical drains – NO SURGICAL DRAINS MEANS THE RED FLUID HAS NOWHERE TO GO BUT OUT SO PROTECT YOUR BEDS
• if transported in personal car, prepare the back so you can lay down (pillows, blanket, water bottle, DROP THE BACKSEAT)
• have step stool ready; to get in & out of bed and SUV –> test it out PRE-OP to see how to get in and out & get comfortable
• have a plan for peeing: a red solo cuP works wonders here – no need to sit down. PERSONALLY, I HAD TOO MANY ISSUES WITH FEMALE URINALS SO I’M NOT A FAN OF THOSE
• buy baby wipes for cleaning yourself after #2; toilet paper won’t cut it
• if returning to work early, pre-plan having stretchy WORK clothes ready
• if working from home, consider a standing desk converter (CHECK OUT THIS ONE ON AMAZON)
• BBL & TT patients: look into options to lay in/sit on (CHECK OUT THESE OPTIONS IN MY AMAZON SHOP)
• pre-plan your faja alterations timeline (send in around week 3-5 post-op); OUR PROCESS IS 100% SELF-SERVE BUT IT WON’T HURT TO TAKE A QUICK LOOK AT THE INSTRUCTIONS IN ADVANCE (LINK HERE)

OF AAAALL THE FAJAS I HAVE WORKED ON AND SEEN THERE ARE TWO MAJOR DIFFERENCES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU GO OUT INTO THE WILD LOOKING TO BUY FAJAS FOR YOURSELF:

1. THE KIND THAT NEEDS TO BE PULLED UP LIKE PANTS: THIS STYLE HAS FABRIC CONNECTING UNDER THE FRONT ZIPPER OR THE HOOK CLOSURE THAT CANNOT BE FULLY OPENED. THIS STYLE WORKS FOR ANYONE WHOSE WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCE IS *UNDER* 15“. THE BIGGER YOUR WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCE IS THE HARDER IT’LL BE TO MAKE THE WAIST AND STOMACH AREA AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE THROUGH ALTERATIONS SINCE YOU WILL STILL NEED TO BE ABLE TO PULL THE FAJA OVER YOUR HIPS, WHICH CAN CAUSE QUITE SOME DISCOMFORT AND IF DONE WRONG COULD LEAD TO YOU NOT EVEN BEING ABLE TO PULL THE FAJA PAST YOUR THIGHS. I HAD TO LEARN THE HARD WAY WHEN I FIRST STARTED EXPERIMENTING WITH FAJA ALTERATIONS, SINCE I HAVE A 19″-20″ DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MY WAIST AND HIPS. A COMMON FAJA BRAND USING THIS STYLE ON ALL OF THEIR FAJAS IS SNATCHEDBODY. EVERY TIME SOMEONE WITH SOME SERIOUS CURVES SENDS ME ONE OF THOSE AND ASKS FOR EXTRA LOWER ABDOMEN COMPRESSION, I CRINGE SINCE I KNOW THAT IF I SNATCH THE FAJA WAIST TO BE TIGHT ENOUGH TO FIT THE CLIENT’S TINY WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THE FAJA OVER THEIR HIPS, WHICH IS POINTLESS AND I OBVIOUSLY AVOID. IF YOU’RE REALLY CURVY, AVOID THIS STYLE AT ALL COST!

 2. THE KIND THAT NEEDS TO BE STEPPED INTO: THIS STYLE FULLY OPENS IN THE FRONT AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE PULLED OVER YOUR HIPS, WHICH MAKES PUTTING IT ON EASIER ON YOUR HIPS AND BOOTY, (IF YOU HAD A BBL, YOUR HIPS & BOOTY ARE GOING TO BE SORE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS). THIS IS THE MOST VERSATILE FAJA STYLE AND CAN FIT ABSOLUTELY ANYONE. IT’S PARTICULARLY GREAT FOR ANYONE WHO IS CONCERNED WITH COMPRESSING THEIR LOWER ABDOMEN PROPERLY – ESPECIALLY TUMMY TUCK PATIENTS. THIS STYLE USUALLY COMES IN HOOK CLOSURE ONLY, WHICH GIVES YOU MORE ADJUSTABILITY. ALL IN ALL, MY PERSONAL FAVORITE. 3 TO 4 ROWS OF HOOK ADJUSTABILITY ARE THE MOST COMMON FOR THIS FAJA STYLE AND THAT IS PERFECT AS IT MAXIMIZES HOW LONG YOUR FAJA CAN STAY TIGHT FOR. FOR MY CLIENTS WITH 15″+ WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCES, I CAN REAAAALLY GO TO TOWN ON YOUR LOWER ABDOMEN ALTERATION WITH THIS STYLE WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT YOU NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT PAST YOUR THIGHS. COMMON FAJA BRANDS OFFERING A VARIETY OF THIS STYLE INCLUDE SONRYSE, MARIAE, BLING SHAPERS, PRETTYGIRLCURVES, MELIBELT, AND MORE.

1. LIPO FOAMS: THOSE THINGS ARE THEE MOST USED POST-OP SUPPLY AND *DEFINITELY* A MUST. YOU CAN GET A MULTIPACK ON AMAZON FOR UNDER $40. A PACK OF 5 IS ENOUGH! THERE ARE ALSO EXTRA-THICK LIPO FOAMS ON AMAZON THAT COME IN A PACK OF 3. PERSONAL PREFERENCE – THE 5-PACK IS BETTER IN MY OPINION SINCE YOU CAN COVER MORE AREAS. YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD TO YOUR LIPO FOAMS BY TAKING SOME HAND TOWELS, NEATLY FOLDING THEM AND PLACING THEM OVER THE LIPO FOAMS IN YOUR FAJA, WHICH IS WHAT I DID. ALL THAT EXTRA STUFFING HAD ME LOOKING LIKE THE MICHELIN MAN BUT IT ACTUALLY FELT VERY GOOD AND DEFINITELY WORKED. DON’T WORRY – YOU’LL ONLY BE THE MICHELIN MAN FOR UP TO 4 WEEKS OR WHENEVER YOU GET YOUR FAJA SNATCHED! 
2. 360 FOAM: SAVE YOUR COINS! TAKE A LARGE TOWEL, NEATLY FOLD IT AND PLACE IT IN YOUR FAJA ON TOP OF THE TANK TOP AND FOAMS SURROUNDING YOUR ENTIRE MID-SECTION. THIS IS GREAT IF YOUR FAJA IS GETTING REALLY LOOSE BUT YOUR SKIN IS STILL TOO NUMB AND SENSITIVE TO THINK ABOUT A TIGHT, COMPRESSED STAGE 2 FAJA – IN OTHER WORDS, THE FIRST 2-3 WEEKS.
3. FEMALE URINAL: SAVE YOUR COINS! DURING MY FIRST ROUND I HAD ONE OF THOSE PURPLE ONES AND I KEPT HAVING ACCIDENTS WITH IT AS EVERYTHING SPILLED OUT OF THE URINAL… ONTO MY POOR FAJA! AND THAT IS NOT FUN SINCE NOW YOU HAVE TO START AN ENTIRE PROJECT TO GET OUT OF IT, WASH IT, DRY IT, AND GET BACK IN IT. MY 2ND ROUND IS WHEN I ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED THAT I COULD JUST PEE STANDING UP INTO A RED SOLO CUP!!! THIS WAS LIFE-CHANGING AND IT’S BASICALLY FREE. MESS-FREE, TOO! THEY GAVE ME THIS LARGE MEASURING CUP VERY SIMILARLY SHAPED TO A RED SOLO CUP AT THE HOSPITAL, WHICH MADE ME HAVE THIS REALIZATION. AND TRUST ME, AFTER A BBL THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO DO IS TRY TO SIT DOWN ON A TOILET SEAT SO PEEING STANDING UP IS EVERYTHING. 
4. MEASURING TAPE: THIS IS A MUST! YOU WILL USE IT A LOT TO KEEP TRACK OF YOUR RECOVERY PROGRESS BUT IT WILL ALSO BE EXTREMELY NECESSARY TO PURCHASE FAJAS AND IF YOU WANT ME TO ALTER THEM FOR YOU. WALMART HAS THEM FOR 99 CENTS. AMAZON HAS THEM FOR ABOUT $2. 
5. BBL PILLOW: TRASH!! IMAGINE SITTING ON AN OVERSIZED BRICK AFTER A BBL – IT FEELS LIKE IT CUTS ALL CIRCULATION OFF AT THE THIGH AND CIRCULATION IS NEEDED FOR THAT FAT TO SURVIVE. I COULDN’T LAST ON IT MORE THAN 10 MINUTES AT A TIME AND HAD TO BALANCE MYSELF THE ENTIRE TIME. NOT VERY RELAXING… I ALSO WHOLEHEARTEDLY BELIEVE THAT IT’S A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD TO SIT ON THEM WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE A WHOLE SUV AND I STILL HAD TO SOMEHOW TURN INTO A SNAKE TO GET IN MY SEAT WITH THE BBL PILLOW ON TOP OF IT. IT WAS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE AND WOBBLY AMONGST OTHER THINGS – DON’T BOTHER. WHAT I RECOMMEND INSTEAD IS A BOPPY PILLOW OR HALF MOON PHYSICAL THERAPY FOAM ROLLER. SEE BELOW!
6. BOPPY PILLOW/HALF MOON FOAM ROLLER: YES!! AFTER TRYING MY HARDEST TO NOT SIT ON MY BUTT *AT AAAALL* THE FIRST 3 WEEKS AFTER MY BBL, I STARTED TO EASE INTO SITTING IN SHORT INCREMENTS USING AN OLD BOPPY PILLOW I HAD FROM WHEN MY SON WAS A BABY. YOU WANT THE ARMS OF THE BOPPY PILLOW TO BE UNDER YOUR THIGHS AND YOUR BOOTY HANGING OVER THE “U” OF THE BOPPY PILLOW. WHEN USING A BOPPY PILLOW IN A CAR YOU CAN TAKE A SOFT BLANKET OR BIG TOWEL, ROLL IT UP, AND PLACE IT BEHIND YOUR LOWER BACK FOR SUPPORT WHILE DRIVING. YOUR CHEEKS WILL LIGHTLY TOUCH THE CHAIR BUT LIGHTLY IS OK! YOU CAN ALWAYS ADD ONE EXTRA SOFT PILLOW UNDERNEATH THE BOPPY PILLOW. ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE IS THIS HALF MOON ROLLER. BEING THAT IT’S ROUND IT MAKES SITTING ON IT SO MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE AS OPPOSED TO THE HARSH CORNERS BBL PILLOWS HAVE. THIS HALF MOON FOAM ROLLER WAS H-E-A-V-E-N-S-E-N-T TO SIT ON WHILE USING THE BATHROOM! HEAVENSENT!!!! ALSO – YOU CANNOT BEAT THAT PRICE!! YOU CAN FIND THIS ITEM IN MY AMAZON SHOPPING LIST.
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8. ICY HOT: IF YOU’RE GETTING A BBL, THIS IS A MUST. YOU WILL BE “SITTING” ON YOUR ELBOWS AND KNEES A LOT, WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO HURT NOT ONLY YOUR SKIN BUT LIKELY YOUR JOINTS. ICY HOT HELPED ME SO MUCH WITH KEEPING THE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT AT BAY.
9. ACTIVIA YOGURTS/YOGURT DRINKS OR ANY PROBIOTIC: GENERAL ANESTHESIA LEADS TO CONSTIPATION! MOST PEOPLE CANNOT GO #2 FOR AT LEAST 3-4 DAYS AFTER HAVING SURGERY. IF YOU START TO DRINK AN ACTIVIA YOGURT DRINK OR EAT AN ACTIVIA YOGURT (OR ANY OTHER PROBIOTIC) EVERY DAY FOR 2 WEEKS LEADING UP TO SURGERY AND DURING THE FIRST WEEK, THE POOP WILL BASICALLY FALL OUT OF YOU! 
10. STAGE 2 FAJAS: THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MUST. THE COMPRESSION HELPS GET RID OF THE SWELLING, PREVENTS FLUID BUILD-UP LIKE SEROMAS, PREVENTS/REDUCES LITTLE HARD SPOTS AND HELPS YOUR SKIN RE-ADHERE TO THE MUSCLE LAYER IT WAS DETACHED FROM DURING LIPOSUCTION/TUMMY TUCK. I HAVE THIS POINT COVERED IN DEPTH ABOVE.
11. TYLENOL MAX STRENGTH: IF YOU’RE HAVING YOUR PLASTIC SURGERY IN THE U.S. YOU WILL LIKELY BE PRESCRIBED PERCOCET/OXYCODONE FOR POST-OPERATIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT. THOSE ARE OPIOIDS AND HAVE THE RISK OF CAUSING ADDICTION. BUT THOSE DRUGS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS THAT COULD MAKE YOU FEEL EVEN WORSE. I RECOMMEND LISTENING TO YOUR BODY AS YOU DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO FEEL PAIN AND BE MISERABLE BUT TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH SHOULD BE ALL YOU NEED ASSUMING YOU DIDN’T HAVE A SUPER AGGRESSIVE MEGA SURGERY. DURING MY FIRST ROUND I ONLY TOOK THE PERCOCETS FOR 3 DAYS THEN SWITCHED TO TYLENOL EXTRA STRENGTH. MY FIRST ROUND WAS VERY AGGRESSIVE. FOR MY ROUND 2, I LITERALLY ONLY TOOK 2 PERCOCETS THE FIRST DAY AND THEN DECIDED I WAS DONE WITH THEM AND SWITCHED TO TYLENOL. I FELT NO PAIN. THE PERCOCETS MADE ME NAUSEOUS AND DIZZY, WHICH TYLENOL DIDN’T. PERCOCET ALSO CAUSES CONSTIPATION. SO ALL AROUND NOT IDEAL. 
12. SHOWER LINER: YES! IF YOU’RE RECOVERING AT HOME OR IN A HOTEL, A SHOWER LINER AT WALMART IS AN UNDER $2 INVESTMENT TO KEEP THE SHEETS SPOTLESS. THIS ASSUMES YOUR SURGEON DID *NOT* PLACE ANY SURGICAL DRAINS AND YOUR FLUID JUST OOZES OUT. ASK YOUR SURGEON PRE-OP IF YOU’LL HAVE DRAINS OR NOT. I HAD DRAINS FOR BOTH SURGERIES AND MY FAJAS, MY CAR AND MY BED STAYED CLEAN AND MESS-FREE. 
13. MASSAGE ROLLER: I WOULD SAY THIS IS PERSONAL PREFERENCE & COMPLETELY OPTIONAL. YOU COULD LITERALLY USE A ROLLING PIN OUT OF YOUR KITCHEN OR A WINE BOTTLE INSTEAD IF YOU WANT TO BE THRIFTY BUT I PERSONALLY PREFERRED SELF-MASSAGING WITH MY OWN HANDS AND SOME COCOA BUTTER. YOU CAN FIND WELL-PRICED MASSAGE ROLLERS ON AMAZON OR AT STORES LIKE TJ MAXX.
14. ARNICA TEA, CREAM OR GEL: ARNICA HELPS REDUCE BRUISING AND SWELLING. I WOULD SAY THIS ONE IS NOT A MUST BUT YOU CAN CERTAINLY INCORPORATE IT INTO YOUR RECOVERY JOURNEY RIGHT AFTER SURGERY AS LONG AS YOU AVOID ANY OPEN SKIN. YOU DON’T WANT TO BUY JUST ANY ARNICA CREAM OR GEL THOUGH – THEY ARE NOT ALL EQUAL FROM A QUALITY OF INGREDIENTS STANDPOINT. DURING MY FIRST ROUND I TRIED THE ONE EVERYONE USES THAT’S LIKE $13 ON AMAZON AND IT DID NOTHING BUT MAKE MY HANDS FEEL STICKY AND GROSS. AN ORGANICALLY-SOURCED ARNICA CREAM I RECOMMEND IS BRUISE JUICE BY BIG BUTTS NO LIES. YOU CAN EASILY FIND IT THROUGH A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH IF THE ABOVE LINK DOESN’T OPEN. QUALITY OVER COST-SAVINGS ON THIS ONE! A LOT OF PEOPLE SWEAR BY PINEAPPLE JUICE, TOO. 
15. SILICONE SCAR GEL: I TRIED BOTH THE GEL AND THE TAPE AND THE CLEAR WINNER FOR ME IS THE GEL. THE TAPE TENDS TO PEEL OFF AND NOT STAY ON. THIS IS A MUST IF YOU WILL HAVE SCARS BEYOND JUST THE LIPO HOLES BUT DEFINITELY HELPS WITH THE LIPO HOLE SCARRING, AS WELL. I STARTED USING IT DAILY AFTER THE FIRST 4 WEEKS ON MY TUMMY TUCK SCAR. YOU WANT TO WAIT UNTIL THE SCAR IS COMPLETELY CLOSED, HENCE THE 4 WEEKS. THE BRAND I USED THAT WAS RECOMMENDED TO ME BY BOTH MY TRUSTED PLASTIC SURGEON AND ANOTHER COLLEAGUE IN THE INDUSTRY WHOSE OPINION MATTERS TO ME WAS “BIOCORNEUM” AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. YOU NEED VERY LITTLE SO A SMALL BOTTLE GOES A LONG WAY. 
16. BOARDS: OMG SUCH A WASTE. DON’T GO OUT THERE PANIC-BUYING EVERY SINGLE TYPE OF BOARD YOU CAN FIND. THEY DO NOT COMPRESS OR MOLD YOU. THEY DON’T! WHOEVER TELLS YOU BOARDS WILL MOLD YOU IS LYING TO YOU. EXAMPLE: THE FAMOUS BACK BOARD WITH THE LITTLE BUMP THAT IS SUPPOSED TO CREATE A CUTE DIP DOWN YOUR LOWER BACK…. FIRST OF ALL, THAT THING WILL SLIDE UP UNCONTROLLABLY. NOTHING WILL KEEP IT IN PLACE. BUT IF YOU SOMEHOW MANAGED TO KEEP THAT BACKBOARD IN PLACE, THE DIP IT LEAVES WILL PUFF BACK OUT WITHIN ABOUT 30 MINUTES. OUR POST-OP SKIN IS BASICALLY PLAY-DOH SO ANYTHING WILL LEAVE LINES, DENTS, DIPS, ETC. BUT THOSE WILL ALL DISAPPEAR FAIRLY QUICKLY ONCE YOU’RE IN THE NUDE. IT’S THE SAME THING AS FALLING ASLEEP ON A WRINKLY PILLOW AND THEN WAKING UP WITH THOSE SAME WRINKLES EMBEDDED INTO HALF OF YOUR FACE. THE AB BOARD – IT’S VERY THIN AND THE ONLY PURPOSE IT SERVES IS TO PREVENT THE FAJA FROM DIGGING INTO YOUR STOMACH WHILE SITTING DOWN. PERSONALLY, MY FAJA DUG INTO MY STOMACH WHILE SITTING BUT IT WAS A NON-ISSUE FOR ME. IT DIDN’T CAUSE ANY PAIN JUST A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE SINCE THE FAJA IS SO TIGHT. BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE ZERO FAT IN YOUR STOMACH, YOUR SKIN WILL FOLD WHEN SITTING DOWN AND IT’S NOT AN ISSUE OR ANYTHING THAT WILL PERMANENTLY LEAVE AN UGLY LINE ACROSS YOUR STOMACH. HOWEVER, IF YOU SIT A LOT FOR WORK AND THE FAJA DIGGING BOTHERS YOU, TOTALLY TRY AN AB BOARD. THE $20 ONES ON AMAZON ARE PRETTY MUCH IDENTICAL TO THE $60+ ONES SOME BRANDS TRY TO SELL YOU. MINUS THE LOGO. SO SAVE YOUR COINS AND JUST GET A “GENERIC” AB BOARD ON AMAZON. SMALL RECTANGULAR SIDE BOARDS – ONLY USEFUL IF YOUR FAJA DIGS INTO YOUR SIDES A LOT AND CAUSES DISCOMFORT. THE LUMBAR MOLDER TRIANGLE BOARD IS HELPFUL BUT NOT ALL AT THE SAME TIME. IT DOES LIKE TO SLIDE UP JUST LIKE THE BACK BOARD AND IT’S MUCH EASIER AND CHEAPER TO JUST TAKE ONE OF YOUR LIPO FOAMS, FOLD IT INTO A TRIANGLE, AND PLACE IT RIGHT ABOVE YOUR BOOTY. THE FOAM IS MUCH LESS LIKELY TO MOVE DUE TO IT’S NON-SLIP TEXTURE. YOU SHOULD DEFINITELY USE SOME COMPRESSION RIGHT ABOVE YOUR BOOTY THE FIRST 2-3 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY – ESPECIALLY IF YOUR SURGEON GAVE YOU “BUTT CLEAVAGE” BECAUSE THE FAT TRANSFERRED INTO YOUR BOOTY COULD STILL MIGRATE UP INTO THE AREA THAT WAS LIPOSUCTIONED EARLY ON. FOLDING A FOAM INTO A TRIANGLE IS ALSO GREAT TO PLACE OVER YOUR SWOLLEN VAGINA. 
17. TANK TOPS: WHILE YOU WILL NEED TO WEAR SOMETHING SEAMLESS UNDERNEATH YOUR FAJA THE FIRST 4 WEEKS THERE REALLY IS NO NEED TO BUY NEW ONES. USE WHAT YOU HAVE. IT CAN TOTALLY BE AN INSIDE-OUT T-SHIRT AS WELL. I GRABBED 4 OLD TANK TOPS THAT I WAS OKAY TO GET RID OF AT THE END AND HAD THEM READY BEFORE MY SURGERY. EVERY TIME I WASHED MY STAGE 1 I’D WASH THE TANK TOP I WORE THAT DAY. 
18. SPORTSBRA/BRALETTE: AGAIN, YOU LIKELY ALREADY HAVE THOSE AT HOME SO NO NEED TO BUY NEW ONES. WHEN WEARING FAJAS, UNDERWIRE BRAS DON’T CUT IT AS THEY CAUSE AN AWKWARD FIT AND BULDING. BUT SPORTSBRAS OR STRETCHY BRALETTES PAIR SUPER WELL WITH FAJAS AND ARE A LOT MORE COMFORTABLE. YOU CAN WEAR THE BRALETTES UNDERNEATH YOUR FAJA. I PURCHASED MY FAVORITE ONES AT TJ MAXX AS WELL AS TARGET.
19. SEAMLESS/STRETCHY PANTIES: I AM REFERRING TO THE SUPER STRETCHY SEAMLESS PANTIES YOU CAN FIND AT VICTORIA’S SECRET. THEY DO NOT COMPRESS AT ALL AND ARE SUPER EASY TO MOVE ASIDE WHEN USING THE BATHROOM WITHOUT HAVING TO TAKE EVERYTHING OFF. YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY START WEARING THOSE ON TOP OF YOUR FAJA RIGHT AWAY, IF YOU LIKE. BY MONTH 1 AT THE LATEST YOU CAN TOTALLY WEAR THE PANTIES UNDERNEATH THE FAJA. 
20. BABY WIPES: BECAUSE TOILET PAPER ALONE WON’T CUT IT! TRUST ME! 

THIS LIST IS NOT COMPLETE & I WILL CONTINUE ADDING TO IT HOWEVER THE LIST ABOVE COVERS THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS. IF THERE ARE OTHER ITEMS YOU’RE UNSURE OF, PLEASE DM ME ON MY INSTAGRAM @THEFAJADOCTOR – I WILL BE HAPPY TO ADD POINTS TO THIS LIST.

IT IS CRUCIAL TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOUR HIP MEASUREMENT IS SOMETHING THE FAJA *HAS TO* FIT. THIS MEASUREMENT WILL NOT CHANGE UNLESS YOU GAIN OR DROP A GOOD AMOUNT OF WEIGHT DURING YOUR RECOVERY. YOU WILL DROP INITIAL SWELLING IN YOUR BOOTY AND HIPS DURING THE FIRST 3 WEEKS BUT USUALLY IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO WARRANT NEEDING TO GO DOWN IN SIZE.

THE WAIST MEASUREMENT IS WHERE ALL THE CHANGE WILL HAPPEN DURING THE FIRST 4-6 MONTHS – NOTICEABLY. AND THIS IS THE REASON WHY I ALWAYS SAY THAT EVERY FAJA NEEDS ALTERATIONS. EVEN HIGHLY EXPENSIVE CUSTOM FAJAS END UP ON MY DESK FREQUENTLY BECAUSE OF THIS VERY FACT. 

FOLLOW THE BELOW RULE OF THUMB TO ORDER A FAJA AND KNOW THAT IT’LL FIT YOUR HIPS RIGHT. YOU WILL NOT COMPRESS YOUR BOOTY AND HIPS IN *ANY* FAJA AS LONG AS YOU FOLLOW THE BELOW GUIDANCE. THIS APPLIES TO STAGE 1 FAJA ORDERING, AS WELL.

👉🏼 No BBL: Just hip measurement
👉🏼 BBL ordering pre-sx: Hip measurement + 4”
👉🏼 BBL under 6 wpo: Hip measurement + 2”
👉🏼 BBL 6 wpo & above: Hip measurement only

IT IS FAIRLY EASY TO GET FAJAS WITH LONG LEGS TO COMPRESS YOUR THIGHS, WHICH IS REALLY THE BEST WAY TO HELP YOUR THIGHS RECOVER. ONCE YOU NO LONGER NEED TO COMPRESS YOUR LEGS, I OFFER A LEG SHORTENING SERVICE ADD-ON. IF YOU CARE ABOUT OUTFIT FLEXIBILITY, YOU CAN ALWAYS GET A FAJA WITH SHORT LEGS AND GET SEPARATE THIGH COMPRESSION SLEEVES. THOSE ARE COMMONLY USED BY PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES BUT CAN TOTALLY BE REPURPOSED FOR OUR LIPO-RECOVERY NEEDS. SEVERAL OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE ON AMAZON!

FAJAS WITH BUILT-IN SLEEVES ARE USUALLY NEVER TIGHT ENOUGH IN THE SLEEVES PLUS THOSE FAJAS ARE EXTREMELY BULKY AND HARD TO HIDE UNDER CLOTHING ESPECIALLY IF YOU LIVE SOMEWHERE WARM. MY RECOMMENDATION FOR ANYONE WHO IS ALSO GETTING ARM LIPO IS TO JUST GET A SEPARATE ARM LIPO GARMENT. HERE ARE THE REASONS WHY THIS IS THE BEST OPTION:

1. OUTFIT FLEXIBILITY
2. MUCH BETTER COMPRESSION THAN MOST BUILT-IN FAJA SLEEVES
3. YOU WON’T NEED TO COMPRESS YOUR ARMS FOR AS LONG AS THE REST OF YOUR BODY SO NOW YOU’RE STUCK WITH A LONG SLEEVE FAJA  (I HAVE AN ADD-ON SERVICE TO REMOVE THE SLEEVES)
4. A MUCH LARGER VARIETY OF FAJAS NOW OPENS UP TO YOU SINCE YOU’RE NOT RESTRICTED BY NEEDING ONE WITH SLEEVES
5. I DON’T TIGHTEN BUILT-IN FAJA SLEEVES BECAUSE AN ARM COMPRESSION GARMENT IS CHEAPER THAN WHAT I WOULD CHARGE TO TIGHTEN THE SLEEVES.

YOU CAN FIND REALLY GREAT ONES ON AMAZON UNDER $25. THEY’RE ALL FAIRLY SIMILAR SO I DON’T HAVE A PREFERRED RECOMMENDATION HERE. 

AVOID FAJAS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED UP. GET FAJAS WITH 3 OR 4 ROWS OF HOOK ADJUSTABILITY THAT FULLY OPEN IN THE FRONT AND NEED TO BE STEPPED INTO (AS OPPOSED TO BEING PULLED UP LIKE A PAIR OF PANTS).

FAJAS THAT NEED TO BE PULLED UP OVER YOUR HIPS WITH AN OVER 15″ WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCE WILL END UP NOT GOING OVER YOUR HIPS IF ALTERED AGGRESSIVELY, AS THE OPENING YOUR HIPS WILL HAVE TO GET THROUGH WOULD GET TOO SMALL. I KNOW HOW TO AVOID THIS WITH ALTERATIONS, HOWEVER THAT MEANS I CAN’T BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS I NORMALLY CAN BE WITH YOUR WAIST AND LOWER ABDOMEN ALTERATIONS. 

A FEW CURVE-FRIENDLY BRANDS INCLUDE (ALTERATIONS WILL GET YOU TO THE EXACT WAIST TO HIP DIFFERENCE YOU’LL NEED):

• BLING SHAPERS (AMAZON)
• SOOSNATCHED
• PRETTYGIRLCURVES
• SONRYSE (AMAZON) –> SHORT TORSO-FRIENDLY
• MARIAE (AMAZON) –> LONG TORSO-FRIENDLY
• SOL BEAUTY AND CARE
• CURVE IT UP
• EQUILLIBRIUM (CHICAGO-BASED)
• MELIBELT

AVOID SUPER SHORT LEG FAJAS. MID-THIGH LENGTH IS YOUR BEST BET AS THE MINIMUM. I HAVE THICK THIGHS AND ALMOST ALL OF MY FAJAS HAVE MID-THIGH LENGTH LEGS. NO ROLLING UP HAPPENING HERE! 

A FEW THICK THIGH-FRIENDLY BRANDS INCLUDE:

• FAJAS SALOME (AMAZON)  –> AVOID IF WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCE IS 15″ OR ABOVE
• BLING SHAPERS (AMAZON)
• DIANE&GEORDI (AMAZON)  –> AVOID IF WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCE IS 15″ OR ABOVE
• SONRYSE #086 SPECIFICALLY (AMAZON)
• SOOSNATCHED
• M&D (AMAZON)
• SOL BEAUTY & CARE
• SNATCHEDBODY  –> AVOID IF WAIST-TO-HIP DIFFERENCE IS 15″ OR ABOVE