Week by Week Breakdown of Tummy Tuck Recovery Whether it’s caring for your children, looking after an elderly parent, or your job, the all-female staff at Tannan Plastic Surgery knows you wear many hats. We start to consider all our day-to-day responsibilities. If pain medication is being used, do not drive.One of the most important questions we get from families considering Tummy Tuck surgery in our all-female office is: “How long will my Tummy Tuck recovery take?” If you are thinking about addressing that C-Section pooch with a Tummy Tuck or Mommy Makeover, keep reading to learn about the recovery.Īs a business owner, a mom and a woman, I understand how the decision to move forward with plastic surgery can seem overwhelming. Most patients can comfortably and safely drive in about 1 day following the surgery. Exercise can be resumed after 2 weeks but patients must monitor exercise against any pain they are feeling. Lifting anything heavy must be restricted for 3 months following surgery. It is best to lightly massage the treatment area for 10 minutes, 3 times a day. Use Vaseline or any other thick lotion on the treatment site as it will be dry for the first few weeks. Massage the area frequently to get the best result especially in the rehabilitation of scars. After that, the garment need only be worn during the day. The compression garment will need to be worn constantly for the first 3 weeks following surgery. Wear the compression garment to the post-op visit. At the visit, wear loose-fitting clothes such as a T-shirt. Blow dry the belly button area and the incision sites. Throughout healing, patients should avoid hot showers or steam rooms. Prior to the visit, patients can remove bandages and shower. Patients are seen 2 to 3 days following surgery. Collection bulbs are attached to allow the fluid to collect and not stain bedding and clothing. There will be 2 or more drains emerging from the incision sites. It helps to reduce swelling, provides support and assists with circulation.
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This is normal and not a cause for concern.Īfter tummy tuck surgery, leave the compression garment in place until the first postoperative visit. If the medication is to be taken every 4 hours for the first few days, do so even if it seems that your pain is well under control.įor the first 24 hours there will be blood-tinged fluid draining from the surgical sites. Pain medication should be taken on schedule to avoid a buildup of pain which is difficult to manage.Taking anti-coagulant medication is prohibited during recovery to avoid bleeding. Check with your doctor to ensure your pain medication will not cause excess bleeding. Medication must not contain any nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAID) such as Advil, Aspirin or Motrin.Prune juice is effective in preventing constipation. If you experience constipation, eat more fruit and drink more water.Vomiting with abdominal sutures is painful. Keep the diet very bland for the first few days following surgery to avoid nausea. Refrain from eating greasy or acidic foods. Let your doctor know if you are having difficulty going to the bathroom.Nicotine can cause cell death resulting in death of tissue in the abdominal or the belly button. Do not smoke, use any nicotine products like patches and if there are smokers in the household, ensure your room is well ventilated.Additionally, make a point of taking deep breaths frequently while awake. Don’t walk upright during this time to allow the incision to heal without excessive strain. The incision will need to be protected for at least 4 days.The more rest a patient can get, the smoother the tummy tuck recovery. Rest is important when recovering from tummy tuck surgery.Also, walking will increase circulation which greatly assists with healing. Even if it is only for a few minutes the first few days, walking ensures that blood clots do not form.
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If you are flying in from another area, let the office know well in advance so an after-care facility can be booked. Ideally have someone who can take over for 2 weeks. Have someone who can take charge of normal activities for at least 4 days following your tummy tuck in Los Angeles.In more strenuous jobs, 4 weeks of recovery will be needed. Depending on the type of work done, patients can return to a sedentary job within 3 weeks. Most patients can return to light activities by the third week.