Frequently Asked Questions After Tummy Tuck Surgery
How much will it hurt?
All patients experience some pain after surgery. Most often this can
be controlled with prescription pain pills. Some patients take only
plain acetaminophen (i.e. Tylenol) for pain. Generally, patients begin
switching to acetaminophen three to five days after their thigh lift.
Do I have to stay in bed after
my surgery?
No. Gently get out of bed as soon as possible after your surgery. An
adult must help you get out of bed the first few times because of possible
fainting. Begin to walk as much as possible as soon as you can after
surgery. Always get out of bed to go to the bathroom. Do take it easy
the first few days. Do not exert yourself in any strenuous activity.
A balance of rest and reduced activity will speed up your recovery.
Will there be any bandages or
dressings?
Foam padding is placed on all the areas treated with liposuction. This
is then covered with an elastic garment. The combination reduces swelling
and bruising dramatically. You will remove the foam padding in two days.
The elastic garment is then put back on after you have had a shower.
You will wear some form of elastic garment covering all the treated
areas for two weeks. It may be necessary to keep a light dressing around
the drain until it is removed.
Will I need to have a drain?
A drain is a tube placed beneath the skin to remove fluid that can
collect after surgery. Tummy tuck surgery is prone to collections of
this fluid. A single drain is placed to remove this fluid for seven
to ten days. It is removed during one of your aftercare visits. Do not
take a bath or swim until the drain has been removed.
When can I shower after a tummy
tuck?
Once any adherent foam padding has been removed in two days, you may
shower. Do not take a bath or swim until the drain has been removed.
After your shower, replace the elastic garment.
When can I have a massage?
Body massage is very effective in relaxation. However, it cannot be
done while there is bruising of the skin due to the risk of long term
or permanent brown-gray staining of the skin. All therapeutic massage
treatments must be discontinued until any bruising has completely resolved.
How long must I be off work?
How long you are off work depends on your occupation. If you do clerical
work (i.e. stockbroker, teacher, or programmer), you can return to work
when you feel up to it. This usually takes about a week. If you do manual
labor (i.e. entertainer, truck driver, or trainer), you must be off
work for three weeks. Regardless of your employment, do not lift anything
weighing more than five pounds for three weeks.
When can I work out after surgery?
Generally, you can go back to working out two to three weeks after
tummy tuck surgery. This depends on how you feel. Do not lift anything
that weighs more than five pounds for three weeks. Avoid contact sports
for eight weeks. Workouts must stop if you experience any discomfort
in your abdomen. A balance of rest and reduced activity will speed up
your recovery.
When do I come back to the office
for aftercare?
I will want to see you one to two days after your tummy tuck. I make
a housecall or you may choose to return to my office for this first
visit. After this, I want to see you at one week, six weeks, six months,
and one year. The reason for this extended care is because it takes
six months to one year for complete healing to occur. There are no charges
for these office visits. You are welcome to be seen in my office anytime
you have questions or concerns about your surgery.
Will there be any stitches to
take out?
No. I only use stitches that will be absorbed or wash out. I do this
to eliminate the discomfort of suture removal after surgery.
When can I suntan after surgery?
Sun tanning damages your skin. It leads to wrinkling, discoloration,
and superficial growths. It can also lead to serious skin cancer. For
these reasons, I recommend that you use sun block with an SPF number
of 15 or greater at all times. A physical broad-spectrum sun block works
best. If you are exposed to the sun, I recommend that you protect treated
areas for six weeks with clothing such as a T-shirt, or pareo. You must
be careful to protect any scars from sun exposure with clothing, tape,
or sun block for six months. Better yet, stay in the shade where it's
cooler!
How long will the results last?
The results are usually very long lasting (i.e. five to ten years).
Weight gain, aging, pregnancy, and sun damage will reduce the longevity
of the results. To maintain the best result, it is important that you
actually weigh less after surgery.
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