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, 102ā², 104ā²) 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.