What Your Doctor Wants You to Know About Your Shapewear

​Just like hair extensions, all celebrities wear shapewear. No, really - even the dinkiest of the A List have copped up to slipping into a pair of stomach-flattening pants for a red carpet event. Not only does it ~​hold it all in~​ but it also smooths out any lines from your bra or pants to ensure whatever you're wear sits **perfectly**.

Basically, it's a special-event-dream, and it's up there with Nutella and dry shampoo for our favourite modern invention. But, there can be some drawbacks to this wonderous contraption, according to some medical experts...

1. It could give you a UTI 

When you're wearing anything that's tough to wiggle in and out of, you're just that bit more likely to try and delay having a wee. But, ignoring nature's call can lead to all kinds of nasty infections in your urinary tract. We're going to say a big 'no thank you' to cystitis - but to be fair, jumpsuits could be just as bad by that logic.

2. You're compressing your organs ​

Some people have called shapewear a 'modern-day corset', and not for nothing. Dr John Kuemmerle told The Huffington Post that the 'squeezing' effect is literally compressing your internal organs - which can lead to all kinds of nasties, including...

3. It could give you acid reflux​

As your stomach, intestines and colon are compressed, your digestive system isn't happy. Acid reflux and heartburn could follow, warned Dr Kuemmerle.

4. You might have some gas or bloating​

You know when you eat a big ol' meal and suddenly your jeans feel a bit more snug? Wearing control undies has a similar effect on your poor tum tum. When it gets all squished in, your digestion doesn't work as well as normal, with gas or bloating being common side effects. Sure, they're temporary, but unpleasant nonetheless.

5. Or in more severe cases - incontinence​

If you struggle with IBS or any condition that can make your need to relieve yourself more pronounced, shapewear might not be your friend. As Dr Kuemmerle noted, all that pressure on your digestive tract can make those feelings even more urgent, and it can exacerbate stress incontinence or leaks in people who suffer from bladder issues.

6. You might experience some numbness and tingling​

You know when your mum used to warn you about tying loads of hair bands around your wrist for fear they'd cut off your circulation? Well, there's a similar principle at work here. Dr Karen Erickson warned about a condition called 'meralgia paresthetica', which causes tingling, pain and numbness in your legs, thanks to a key nerve in your thighs being compressed. 

7. It could lead to varicose veins and blood clots ​

A more serious continuation of having so much pressure on your limbs for a prolonged amount of time could be blood clots or varicose veins - pretty scary stuff. Dr Erickson did note that this was most common in people genetically prone to varicose veins, but it's worth keeping in mind.​

8. You might hyperventilate

Richard Bricknell, a director at the Bristol Physiotherapy Clinic told the Daily Mail that all that pressure can affect your breathing as well as your veins and stomach. The tightness stops your diaphragm fully dilating when you breathe, which can lead to shortness of breath and hyperventilation.

9. There could be a lot of bacterial nasties ​

Clean freaks, look away now. When you're wearing something so figure-hugging, you're going to sweat more, and that sweat and moisture (nice) doesn't really have anywhere to go hence your pants can kind of become a breeding ground for bacteria. If it is control pants you're wearing, you could even bring on conditions like thrush, or cause pesky spots on your back or tummy as the skin can't breathe.

10. Ingrown hairs. Yep, we said it. ​

You know how your waxing lady always tells you wear loose pants after a wax? Well, loose pants are basically what your lady parts would like 24/7, and wearing something super-tight only increases friction down there. The other hair-related woe could be folliculitis, which is when bacteria gets trapped in the hair follicles and causes angry red bumps. So sexy.

11. ​Your posture might suffer

Plenty of people rate their shapewear for improving their posture. That cinched-in effect will make you stand taller in the short term, but relying on shapewear for good posture will only weaken your core muscles - turning things into a bit of a vicious cycle.

12. You shouldn't wear it for extended periods of time​

All of the research we dug up said that shapewear is fine in moderation but using it all day every day is where the problems really begin - your body just doesn't like to be squished that much.​