Within the first week of your tummy tuck, you will follow up with your doctor for a post op appointment. During this appointment your doctor will make sure that you are beginning to heal properly. Your doctor will also discuss a course of action for the rest of your recovery plan. For the first few weeks after surgery it is normal to notice redness, bruising, and swelling. These symptoms should subside around the 3 week mark.A tummy tuck operation, otherwise known as an abdominoplasty, focuses on making the abdomen of the individual lean and flat. This is done by extracting the sagging and loose skin and tissue that is prevalent in the region. Ideally, the patient should have loose skin instead of an abdomen that is full and paunchy with fat cells. This means that the individual needs to lose weight first before an effective abdominoplasty can be performed.
Give your belly some time to heal before watching a chuckle fest. This may not be possible, but if you can use something as a shower chair it may allow you to enjoy your shower instead of hobbling about your tub in a half-standing position. Also, you may find that asking your spouse or friend to wash your hair in the sink is less hassle, pain-free and it’s always more than a little luxurious to have your hair washed by another.
It is recommended that you start taking medications to avoid constipation before the surgery, your surgeon is likely to prescribe you in advance in anticipation of after effects of the surgery. Your movements will be restricted for initial few days after the surgery. You will need help of someone to help you to get up when you are lying down.
Sleep is a good thing. I like sleeping. Can you tell? Have a whistle on hand, a bell or an intercom system, so that you may call your caregiver when you need to. Try not to abuse this, or your caregiver may hit you over the head with the whistle or bell. Ask your surgeon about products to help with scars, such as silicone sheeting or Kelocote, Steri-Strips, or Mederma.
Find your space inside your home where you’ll be comfortable. Set up pillows, blankets, books and movies, healthy nonperishable snacks, bottles of water, and comfortable loose-fitting clothes nearby. Put as much in this space as you can to minimize how much you need to move around. Stock up on any medical supplies your doctor recommends, such as gauze bandages, cold compresses, over-the-counter pain medication, and ointments.
That being said, you’ll still have to walk around a bit each day to help prevent blood clots. Smoking interferes with blood flow and wound healing. For most patients, any sutures that need to be removed (usually around the belly-button), will be removed within the first two weeks of recovery. At a minimum, you should refrain from smoking until your sutures are removed and your incisions are healing well.
Studies have shown that pain and stress significantly increase healing time after abdominoplasty surgery. You do not want an infection to interfere with your tummy tuck healing. Take them on time and use the entire prescription no matter how well you feel, unless your doctor tells you to stop. Make a chart of when to take your medications. Some are taken once every 4 hours, some are taken four times a day. Don't confuse the instructions.
Once the swelling begins to go down you will be able to get a better idea of what your results will look like. Although everyone’s body is different and will not heal the same, there are proven methods that will help the healing process after a tummy tuck procedure. Here are 5 of the top tips to follow after your tummy tuck to ensure optimal and comfortable healing. This advice may seem like a no brainer, but not following the instructions of your doctor is the leading reason patients have complications after their tummy tuck.
