7. An ACPS certified home healthcare provider will come to your place of stay on the second and third days after surgery to assist and teach wound care and dressing change. 8. Constipation is common, especially when using pain medication. We advise regular use of laxatives for the first week or so and drinking plenty of water (at least 8-12 cups a day). 9. Alternating or adjusting resting positions is helpful to avoid muscle stiffness and tightness.Vomiting with abdominal sutures is painful. If you experience constipation, eat more fruit and drink more water. Prune juice is effective in preventing constipation. Medication must not contain any nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Advil, Aspirin or Motrin. Check with your doctor to ensure your pain medication will not cause excess bleeding. Taking anti-coagulant medication is prohibited during recovery to avoid bleeding.
Your surgeon will prescribe antibiotics in order to help prevent infection, but these will only work if you actually take them. They should be taken on time and in full. Even if you are feeling better, it is important to take the complete prescription until they are finished. In the first few days after the procedure, getting rest should not be too difficult as you will not feel like moving much anyway.
It is extremely important to attend your follow-up appointments so that Dr. Van Wyck can assess the progress of your recovery. The first follow-up appointment will generally be the day after surgery. Further appointments will be scheduled depending on the needs of each individual patient and the risk of developing complications. If any unusual concerns arise, please contact Dr. Van Wyck’s office immediately. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of a tummy tuck and the recovery involved, contact our office online.
This can cause you unnecessary pain and even create a problem with the closing of the wound. Many surgeons recommend that their patients wear some type of a compression garment. This is worn to help support the body as well as speed up the amount of time it takes for the wound to heal. Immediately following the procedure, there may be some swelling, so wear loose clothing that will fit over top of the compression garment and will not affect the wound in any way.
This isnt a surgery to have if you dont have someone that can help you do things around the house. After that first week, its all about taking it slow and letting your body heal in its own time. After a few weeks, you will be able to return to something resembling your usual schedule, although with precautions in place.
Walking is one of the most effective ways to prevent the formation of blood clots during recovery. It also helps the body from becoming tight and stiff and increases the rate that swelling subsides. Many doctors will recommend to start by walking slow and short distances. Speed and distance can be increased as your recovery progresses. Proper nutrition before and after surgery is very important to the recovery process. Patients that are malnourished will not heal properly and have a higher chance of accumulating fluid. Having a diet rich in iron and vitamin C will greatly help your healing process. It is also important to quit smoking 4-6 weeks before your tummy tuck procedure. Nicotine, hydrogen, cyanide, and carbon monoxide, all found in cigarettes, hinder blood flow to cells and cause many complications during the healing process.
Having had your tummy tuck surgery it is essential when you arrive home to convalesce, that you are very careful and take it easy. And follow your surgeon's instructions to the letter. That way you will make your tummy tuck recovery as speedy and pain-free as possible. The first several days of your convalescence at home will be crucial to a speedy and perfect recovery. You are probably going to need help during this period, as you are more likely going to need help to go to the bathroom.
As a precaution measure, though, it is better not to make effort at least for a few weeks. Hence, lifting weights and other similar activities are not adequate after a tummy tuck, or after any other kind of surgery. The thing people must keep in their mind is that recovery takes a very short period of time and that they can get back to their usual routine pretty soon after the surgical intervention. Patience will be rewarded substantially.
