How to Reinforce Swim Skills Safely at Home
Welcome to our final post in our ‘Welcome to FINS Intro to Swim and Safety’ series. We hope that you have found these emails informative and helpful. Don’t forget, we love your feedback! Our goal at FINS is to keep parents informed about what their child is learning in class and to provide various helpful tips. As always, ALL FINS team members are happy to help answer questions and address concerns as you have them.
Tips for continued learning while at home:
For the beginner child with fear or apprehension of water:
- During bathtime, gently pour water over the hair, letting it cascade over the face too. You can do this with a slow pour rain bucket like we have in class or a simple cup. Once they allow you to do it, encourage them to pour water on their own head! Always encourage with smiles and positivity. Make it fun!
- Talk about FINS a few times per week when you are not headed to lessons. Mention the instructor’s name a lot too! You can even ask your child questions about their instructor or help them come up with things to ask next time they see them, such as “What is your favorite color? Animal? Book when you were a kid?” By speaking openly about swim lessons and the people your child will see there, it will help to build trust and familiarity more quickly. Having questions to ask will take your child’s mind off of the water and the task of learning, and redirect them to fun little facts about their instructor!
For the child with no fear and progressing swim skills (ideas to practice at the pool):
- Swim outs – If your child wants to show you what they are learning in class, by all means let them do it! Allow them to ‘swim out’ to you from a step or ledge. Always start with a shorter distance than they are used to at FINS, as it is a new environment and circumstances. We parents sometimes want to see if they can do more, but it’s our strong recommendation that increases to their swim distance be restricted to during swim time with our trained teachers.We want your child to see pool time as a FUN experience with you. By having them swim further than they are used to in class, it could create fear and even regress their progress. You just enjoy the playtime!
- Fall in and get the wall – Again, if your child wants to show off their skills to you, go for it! Just limit this skill to no more than 3 times. Most importantly, please make sure they fall FORWARD into the water. Avoid simply scooting to the edge or leaning backward to prevent hitting their head on the pool edge, we even recommend keeping a hand behind the child in case they need a little extra push for their safety..
- Back float – Ask your child if they prefer to be held/supported by you or if they float alone. If your child is nervous and asks for your support, do NOT let go. This can instantly regress back float progress. Remember, leave the swim teaching to the instructors at FINS. We want your child to have fun showing you what they can do! Simply being in the back float position, independently or not, is major progress and they will be proud to show you!
- Have fun! If you get the opportunity to swim with your child, we recommend just a short 5 or so minutes spent on skill reinforcement. Make sure most of your time is about playing and making memories!
Important Water Safety Rules for Every Child
For ALL children enrolled in our Learn to Swim and Safely Levels:
Reinforce the memorization of Swim Safety Rules we go over in class:- Never Swim Alone (only swim with a grown-up)
- Always use the handrail or sit to get into a pool
- Never swim during thunder and lightning
- No running around the pool
- No eating in the pool
Thank you for taking the time to read our emails and blog posts. Again, we hope you found them helpful and informative! We also want to thank you one more time for taking a very important step in drowning prevention by giving your child the gift of swim lessons. Always remember, teaching your child to swim DOES NOT make them drown-proof. Accidents can happen anywhere and to anyone. Ways of creating layers of drowning prevention include:
- Constant Adult Supervision
- Learning CPR
- Swim Lessons
- Safety Fence Installed Around Pools
- Use of Approved Life Jackets
For more information on Drowning Prevention Education, please visit: http://www.ghadpa.org/
The Post-Op Shortcut That Could Compromise Your Results
Let’s talk about a trend that deserves more attention.
Social media is full of advice telling people to skip their Stage 2 faja and jump straight into a Stage 3 waist trainer, since it looks smaller, feels tighter, and creates a more dramatic curve.
But tighter is not always better, especially while your body is still healing.
Stage 2 Fajas and Waist Trainers Serve Different Purposes
Although garment stages and designs vary by manufacturer and surgeon, a Stage 2 faja typically provides broader, more even compression across treated areas. It may accommodate changing swelling, support healing areas, and hold surgeon-approved foams or boards in place.
A Stage 3 waist trainer mainly cinches and shapes the midsection using firmer, targeted pressure. It may create a temporary hourglass silhouette and support later waist-shaping goals, but it is not a direct replacement for post-operative compression.
Why Uneven Pressure Can Be a Problem
Many waist trainers contain rigid boning, firm seams, or hard edges. When worn too early or fitted incorrectly, these features may place concentrated pressure on healing tissue.
This may contribute to:
- Pressure lines
- Skin irritation
- Tender or numb areas
- Indentations
- Uneven compression
Healing after liposuction is influenced by many factors. Fibrosis can develop for several reasons, and while a waist trainer should not be considered the sole cause, uneven or excessive pressure may influence how healing tissue looks and feels.
Waist Trainers Do Not Provide Full BBL Support
After a BBL, the transferred fat and surrounding tissues need time to heal. Your surgeon may recommend a garment that supports treated areas while avoiding unwanted pressure on the buttocks.
A waist trainer focuses primarily on the midsection. It does not provide the same coverage across the lower back, hips, and other treated areas as a properly fitted post-operative garment.
Never replace your prescribed faja or change compression garments without your surgeon’s approval.
Tighter Compression Is Not Always Better
During recovery, the goal is balanced, surgeon-directed compression, not simply wearing the tightest garment possible.
A garment that is too tight may create pressure points, cause comfort, or fit unevenly as swelling changes. Signs that a garment may not fit properly include:
- Deep or painful indentations
- Increasing numbness or tingling
- Skin discoloration
- Persistent discomfort
- New swelling above or below the garment
Contact your surgeon if you notice these symptoms or have concerns about your garment.
When a Waist Trainer May Be Appropriate
A waist trainer may be considered once swelling has decreased and your surgeon determines that your body is ready for firmer shaping.
The right timing depends on your procedure, healing progress, treated areas, and compression plan. Think of it as a finishing tool, not an early-healing shortcut.
What We See at InstaBody Spa
Clients often visit InstaBody Spa with questions about switching between garments. Common concerns include:
- “Why does my waist feel hard?”
- “Where did these lines come from?”
- “Why doesn’t my faja fit correctly?”
- “Why has my shape changed?”
During consultations, some clients mention switching to a waist trainer earlier than their surgeon recommended. While many factors influence healing, these conversations highlight why following your surgeon’s garment instructions is important.
Wear the Right Garment at the Right Time
Replacing a surgeon-recommended Stage 2 faja with a Stage 3 waist trainer may apply pressure that is not appropriate for your current stage of healing.
Follow your surgeon’s garment instructions and ask before changing compression levels. Post-operative shaping should work with your recovery, not rush it.
Your recovery plan is unique to your procedure and your surgeon’s recommendations. If you have questions about post-operative compression or lymphatic drainage, consult your surgeon first. Once your surgeon has cleared you, InstaBody Spa can provide post-operative services that complement your surgeon’s recovery instructions.
Get Personalized Recovery Support
Every recovery journey is different, so follow your surgeon’s guidance before changing compression garments or scheduling additional services.
Once your surgeon provides clearance, book a recovery session with InstaBody Spa for personalized support based on your procedure and healing stage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a waist trainer replace my post-operative faja?
Not unless your surgeon specifically approves the change. The garments provide different coverage and pressure, so they are not automatically interchangeable.
When can I start wearing a waist trainer after surgery?
There is no universal timeline. Your surgeon should determine when your swelling, incisions, and treated tissues are ready for firmer compression.
Can tight compression cause fibrosis?
Fibrosis may develop for several reasons after surgery. Uneven or excessive pressure may be one contributing factor, but it is not necessarily the sole cause. Contact your surgeon if you notice new firmness, discomfort, or changes in the treated area.
How do I know if my faja is too tight?
Painful indentations, numbness, tingling, skin-color changes, or worsening discomfort may indicate a problem. Contact your surgeon for guidance.
Can I wear a waist trainer after a BBL?
Only with your surgeon’s approval. Any garment used after a BBL should avoid unwanted pressure on transferred fat and follow your surgeon’s recovery plan.