An Abdominoplasty, or Tummy Tuck, is one of the top elective surgeries performed in the United States, and here is the reason why.
This procedure eliminates excess abdominal skin and tightens your abdominal muscles all at once. This is important for men and women looking to enhance their physique especially after recent weight loss. Excess skin is something that cannot be removed through physical exercise and therefore, the only way to eliminate is through surgery. Although tummy tucks are popular, it is important to emphasize this is a surgery with a considerable recovery and should not be taken lightly.
For a smoother recovery, we have prepared a list that can help you be ready for post-surgery care by making sure you have everything you need for the upcoming weeks of healing.
Read these five crucial tips to stay on top of your healing process.
1. Choose A Caregiver For Your Abdominoplasty Recovery
For the first two to four days of your tummy tuck recovery time, you will need the assistance of someone who will be there for you for anything you need. They can help with surgical drains, managing your medications, and assisting you from lifting and sitting positions to standing positions.
If having friends or family around is not an option, you have the choice to hire a home visitation nurse. The nurses can come every day or can stay around the clock and can be your support as needed. The Sculpt Team can give you a recommendation for the best nursing care.
2. Prepare Your Space
Are you recovering in a temporary residence or in the comfort of your own home? This is something you need to consider before your surgery date, as you will likely be there for at least the first week of your whole tummy tuck recovery.
Once you know where you will reside, you can prepare it with all your necessities. Organize your space with pillows, extra blankets, water bottles, and entertainment choices. All at hip level, so they are easy to reach.
3. Follow Your Surgeon’s Orders
Your surgeon has created a detailed care plan that ensures the best and fastest recovery and should not be taken lightly. You will receive a list of instructions to follow prior to the surgery and for the following weeks.
You will be given a compression garment to wear, wear it! The compression garment protects any incisions and keeps the tissue from swelling.
Additionally, you will be given a sheet where you can annotate the amount of fluids from the drains allowing you to easily keep track of fluid levels.
Lastly, you will be given a follow up appointment schedule and it is imperative that these appointments are maintained.
4. Walk For A Faster Recovery
It may seem difficult or counterintuitive at first but walking after a tummy tuck will help you recover faster. Walking helps prevent blood clots from forming and helps reduce swelling by keeping your lymph fluids moving.
However, while it is important that you move and get around, it is also important that you do not overly exert yourself. You will be instructed to not workout for a minimum of 6 weeks. This will be assessed at every follow up appointment.
Give yourself the time to rest and recover but do get up and get your steps in at least every hour. Take it slow and work with your doctor for the best ways to get your steps in. Before you know it, you will be back to moving at a normal pace.
5. Give Yourself Time for Abdominoplasty Recovery
Recovery can take time, and swelling and bandaging can make it hard to see immediate results. Give yourself time to heal, and do not make rash judgments about the appearance of your stomach.
Remember that at the end of it all, your recovery and results will be all worth it.
Consult Your Surgery Team With Recovery Questions
By following these tips and the instructions of your surgeon, your abdominoplasty recovery will move smoothly and you will be well on your way to a more confident you.
Sculpt Aesthetic Center wants you to have the knowledge on taking the best care of yourself post-procedure. Let our dedicated world-renowned plastic surgeon and team give you the body you deserve.
For more information on our services, schedule a consultation today.
