Remember that the surgeon has experience in dealing with the recovery of his or her patients and therefore also has the understanding of what can and what will not help speed up the recovery process. It is therefore important to discuss any decisions regarding your recovery with the surgeon in charge of the tummy tuck surgery to make sure that the decision is beneficial to your particular circumstances.After getting a tummy tuck, you will undergo a recovery time. Your body needs time to heal and to react to the changes created by your surgery. What can you expect in the days and weeks after your tummy tuck? Understandably patients want to know how long the recovery process will take. The answer depends on a variety of factors. One of the most important, though, is your health and fitness. For example, patients who are in better physical shape before the tummy tuck will not need as long to recover.
Unfortunately, these can lead to more complications with the procedure. Manage other medical problems before having a tummy tuck. It is advised to have a general health screening in advance to be sure you are ready. Finally, there are a lot of things you can do that will make the recovery easier on yourself.
What medication will I be given or prescribed after surgery? Will I have dressings/bandages after surgery? When will they be removed? When will the stitches be removed? How will I bathe? How long will I wear the pressure garment? When can I resume normal activity and exercise? When do I return for follow-up care?
After I hung up I immediately took two 500 mg Tylenol. My pain lowered considerably and I felt much better the rest of the day. I made it to the surgeon's office, where she declared that everything looked great and I was cleared to take a shower. No thanks. It was hard enough getting myself to her office.
You may also have small tubes placed under your skin to drain excess blood and fluid. Once Dr. Van Wyck has determined that you have responded well to the surgery and you are ready to leave, you will be given specific post-operative instructions. Due to the complexity of the procedure and the medications involved, you should arrange for transportation home in advance.
It is important to keep yourself well hydrated and nourished during this period though in order to keep your strength up to help you through recovery. Stock up on some mild, healthy foods that are easy to eat such as yogurt, soft veggies and fruit, or a pudding that you particularly enjoy.
It takes six weeks for the initial recovery phase of a tummy tuck to pass, and you’ll need several follow-up appointments with your doctor to check on how your incision is healing. During this time, you should avoid any position that involves abdominal extension or bending backwards, which may pull or place too much tension on the incision.
But tummy tuck is an abdominal procedure, and you do not want to watch any gut-busting comedies, at least not in the first few days. 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.
