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Like any form of cosmetic surgery, a certain amount of recovery time is required following a tummy tuck. In fact, it is one of the most invasive forms of plastic surgery and thus it fairly high on the list of long recoveries. Having said that, thousands of women a year go under the knife for a tummy tuck and come out the other side feeling good about their decisions.
Watching some great new movies or reading a book youve been waiting for will help pass the time much more quickly. You may also want to get some things that will keep you very focused such as a video game, puzzle book, or another quiet mental activity. After tummy tuck surgery you may not have the biggest appetite, especially the first few days when the anesthesia is still wearing off as your stomach may feel particularly sensitive.
Patients with sedentary jobs can usually return to work within a week. However, if you have a physically demanding job, you may have to wait two to three weeks before you can return. In most cases, incisions heal within two weeks. For the first two weeks following your procedure, you should arrange transportation.
Your temperature will likely be taken, and the incision will be checked to make sure that it is not red, as a fever and redness around the cut are signs of infection. You should also be given a compression garment to wear after the tummy tuck. As the name suggests, this type of garment is meant to compress the area after surgery so that it heals properly, and also so that fluid does not collect in the abdomen.
The surgeon will have prescribed antibiotics, pain medication and other medicines that will manage inflammation and swelling of the affected areas. Swelling can be easily managed and controlled if it is accepted by the patient as something that happens to everybody who undergoes the abdominoplasty and as something that will go away after several weeks. Not stressing out about the presence of the swelling is one way of managing it.
If you do notice a problem or hit a rough patch during your tummy tuck recovery, it is very important to contact your doctor right away. Leaving problems can result in serious complications later on down the line, which is why it is important to address any issues as they arise.
If you need to pick the habit back up, wait until at least a couple of weeks after the surgery. Following the surgery, your doctor will give you a number of instructions. It is important that you follow these instructions to the letter, letting your doctor know if there are any problems. You will be fitted with drains to take care of excess fluid.
You will get detailed information on how to prepare in advance of your tummy tuck. Besides the required steps to prepare, there are also actions you can do in advance to help improve the outcome and the recovery. For example, you should create good diet and exercise habits in advance.