A garment (1) for providing compressive forces to a torso to help eliminate
or reduce swelling caused by an accumulation of lymph fluid in the torso
region. An embodiment of the present invention includes an outer covering
(10) of compression fabric, wide shoulder straps (22, 24), front and back
panels of compression fabric (12, 14, 16, 18), a non-rolling rib band
(72), axilla gussets (82, 84), and both front closure (40) and back
closure(50). The garment may also include one or more princess seams (102,
104, 102', 104') so as to enable the front panel(s) to encapsulate and
hold the user's breasts in place at the same time that compressive forces
are applied, as well as one or more front shelves (132, 134) in the front
panel(s) for providing upward compressive support to the breast tissue,
thereby holding the tissue in a proper neutral position so that inward
compressive forces acting on the tissue provide maximum effect. Through
the use of the present invention, a user can provide the proper amount of
compressive support that is required for each area of the torso. To wit,
the user can set the adjustable closure to a desired tightness and provide
up to four different levels of support over the torso region.