I think it depends on the type of band - after my second c/s I had a DRAM (muscle separation) of 5-6 cms! It was awful so they gave me a band thing like Nai described - when it was hot and I didn't wear it though I wore old granny type undies that mum got me at the market with the big support panel in the front - mums swears by them and that they do help fix things back to where they are meant to be.

I would talk to a physio at your hospital hun (or was it the same physio that said something about organs? Seems weird to me if other women are getting sent home in big tube thingys!)