Tummy Tuck Frequently Asked Questions
After Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty Surgery
When Can I Do What After Tummy Tuck Surgery?
| WHEN (Approximately) | WHAT |
|---|---|
| One Day | First post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia |
| Two Days | Shower with a helper nearby |
| Seven Days | Driving |
| Ten Days | Second post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia |
| Two Weeks | Back to work Bruising fades |
| Three Weeks | Third post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia Activity level and exercise can gradually be increased |
| Four Weeks | Increase strenuous exercise level |
| Six Weeks | Fourth post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia |
| Six Months | Fifth post–operative visit with Dr. Virginia |
| Several Months to One Year | Fading of scars |
See the When Can I page and the information below for more post–surgery details.
What happens right after my tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Immediately after surgery: In most cases, you can go home 2 hours after the surgery. Someone will need to drive you, because you will still be groggy from the anesthesia and you may experience some soreness around your incisions. Dr. Virginia will call you in the evening to see how you are doing.
The first 24–48 hours: It is very important that someone stays with you for the first 48 hours. During that time, you will feel tired from the anesthesia, sore from the incisions, and you will need help taking your medication on time and getting food. You will have an ON–Q pain pump in place and the doctor will prescribe pain medication so that the soreness will not be excessive, but there will be some. You can take a shower on the second day after surgery, but don't let the drains drop on the floor. Keep the ON–Q and the drains attached to your waist belt. You can remove your binder for the shower, but be sure to replace it right away and keep it on at all times—even while sleeping. You will be encouraged to get out of bed frequently after surgery and to take short walks to promote blood circulation and reduce the risk of blood clots forming.
In cases where the doctor did more extensive surgery, she may want to keep you in the hospital overnight or even 2 or 3 nights.
Dr. Pittman–Waller will want to see you in her office on the first or second day, so she can check your progress and help you change the bandages.
What can I expect during the recovery period from tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Third day: Your discomfort level will begin to improve. You can remove the ON–Q pain pump after the third day. You can then take oral pain medication to control the post–surgical pain. Although it may be difficult to stand up straight, you are encouraged not to sit for long periods of time during the first few days after your surgery. Straining, bending, or lifting should be avoided, since these activities could cause bleeding or swelling.
Fifth day: You will be wearing a binder and may return to work if you feel like it.
Seventh day: You can start driving as soon as the pain has gone away and you no longer need to take pain medication. This generally happens about a week after surgery.
Two weeks: Your discomfort will decrease markedly during the first few weeks. Whatever bruising has occurred will normally disappear by the second week. Some patients experience numbness at first, followed by a pins and needles sensation which should disappear by 7 to 14 days after surgery. The doctor uses absorbable sutures and they should be absorbed by the body after 2 to 3 weeks.
Be sure to wear the elastic binder provided to you to reduce the swelling and to help promote healing and good scar formation. Wearing the binder will help prevent post–surgical problems that might otherwise develop. You may remove the binder to shower, but replace it immediately afterwards. If the binder is too tight, call the office and we'll get you one that fits better.
Three weeks: Dr. Virginia will want to see you again to check your progress. Be sure to avoid heavy lifting or straining for the first three weeks. Strenuous exercise can normally start slowly after the third week.
Four weeks: You can increase your level of strenuous exercise.
Six weeks: Dr. Virginia will want to see you again to check your progress.
Six Months: Dr. Virginia will want to see you again to check your progress and to take post–operative photos.
Will I have to stay in the hospital after tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
It depends on the extent of the surgery, the technique used, and the volume of skin and fat removed. Many patients can go home the same day. The doctor may want some patients to spend the first night for observation and for help in controlling pain. For patients who have had extensive surgery with the removal of large amounts of skin and fat, she may want to keep them in the hospital for 2 or 3 days. Rest assured, she will let you go home as soon as she feels it is safe to do so.
Can I drive myself home after tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery even if I do not have general anesthesia?
No. You will need to have someone drive you home, a relative or friend, and take care of you for the first 48 hours. After general anesthesia or sedation, you will sleep a lot. You also have to take medications regularly and may not wake up at the right times.
I have a ride home from the surgery center but my friend can't stay over that night. Can I do that?
You need to have someone stay with you for the first 24 to 48 hours. You will likely be sleepy and groggy and will need help to accomplish simple things like going to the bathroom and eating. It is very important to take your medicine on time and follow any other instructions Dr. Pittman–Waller may have given you. There is a danger that you will fall asleep and not take your medicine or do other things on time. Someone needs to be with you.
I am coming from out of town for my surgery and will stay at a hotel. Can I take care of myself?
If you are coming from out of town and do not have family or friends in the area, then please let the doctor know so that arrangements can be made for a homecare nurse to be with you. It is very important that you not be alone during the first 24 to 48 hours.
What if I get sick and can't keep my medicine down?
Taking your medication with some food and water may help you keep it down. Salt also helps with nausea, either licking some straight salt or eating salty food. If you simply cannot keep your medications down, alert Dr. Pittman–Waller so she can either change your medication or prescribe an anti–nausea medication.
Why do I need to wear an elastic binder after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
The binder is a device that many patients dislike. It is a device that is worn around the body and the abdomen. It is very important to wear it as it assists in healing, most importantly in helping the skin adhere to the tissues beneath. It also helps to reduce swelling and to promote good scar formation.
How long will the recovery period take after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
An abdominoplasty is major surgery and your body will take time to heal. For the first week, you may feel tightness when you stand upright, although you will be able to stand straight and you should walk often. You will be much improved after 2 to 4 weeks, but it will probably be several weeks or even months before you feel back to normal. The exact time period varies from individual to individual. You can start doing things sooner, but you will probably not be back to speed right away. Some patients can return to their work after 1 to 2 weeks, but others need 3 to 4 weeks to recover sufficiently. If you start out in top physical condition with strong abdominal muscles, the recovery will be faster. But even if you're not an exercise buff, most patients recover well.
How fast will my incisions heal after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Your incisions should be healed by the third month, but they may heal at different rates, one side a little faster than the other. Depending on the technique and areas treated, you may have a little more swelling in one place than in another. This is normal. When the incisions have fully healed, however, they should look very similar. Your scars may appear to worsen during the first 3 to 6 months as they heal, but this also is normal. The scars normally take over a year or two to flatten, fade, and fully mature.
What color will my scar be?
Light skinned people tend to produce red scars, while darker skinned people tend to produce dark scars. There is a greater tendency to keloid scarring, or hard, raised scars in darker skinned individuals, most commonly in African–American, Hispanic, and Asian-American patients, although keloids can occur in other individuals as well. As the scars mature, they should fade to your normal skin color. It is important to protect the scar from the sun and not go to a tanning salon for the first year after surgery. Exposure to the sun's rays will increase the amount of pigmentation in the scar resulting in a permanently darker scar. The pigment will remain in the scar and not fade with time.
How can I care for the incision after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, so that the scar heals as nicely as possible?
After the wound has closed, Dr. Pittman–Waller recommends using Mederma or Scarguard MD to help minimize scars. Applying one or the other to the wound twice daily for a couple of weeks appears to improve the final appearance of scars.
Will I have swelling after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Swelling is very common, so it's not something to be concerned about. Sometimes the swelling migrates downward toward the groin or even farther. The swelling will subside within a few days to a few weeks.
Do I have to wear a binder or girdle after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty?
Yes. A binder helps control swelling and it assists in the healing process, helping the skin adhere to the tissues beneath. It supports the abdominal wall as the abdominal wall is healing and prevents it from bulging out immediately after the surgery. It also helps decrease post–surgical pain by supporting the muscular repair. In addition, it decreases drainage and allows for the earlier removal of the drains that are put in place at the time of surgery. Some patients find they can wear a girdle during the day, but it is important to always wear the binder at night. The binder needs to be worn for at least six weeks and sometimes for as long as eight weeks.
Will I have bruising after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
You may or may not have bruising. Like the swelling, bruising may also migrate downward. Bruising can work its way down to your groin area and even as far as your upper thighs, though this doesn't seem to be really common. A bruise that looks really bad and feels firm, should be reported to the doctor. This could be a hematoma, a collection of blood in the tissue.
Do I have to move around, if I'm still sore from the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Moving as soon as you can is an important part of healing. Most importantly, it helps reduce the danger of blood clots. You need to start walking around your house right away after surgery.
When will my drains be removed after tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
The drains are normally removed after the wound stops draining fluid from under the incision. It usually takes about a week to 10 days, but in some patients it can take longer, 2 to 3 weeks, without being cause for concern.
When will the stitches be removed after my tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Dr. Pittman–Waller uses absorbable stitches. They will be absorbed by the body, so there is no need to take them out.
Will I have to sleep on my back or side forever?
No, of course not. You should sleep on your back for the first week or two to help prevent fluid pooling, to avoid throbbing pain, and to reduce swelling. As you begin to heal, you can start to sleep more on your side.
Can I sleep on my stomach after my tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery? Will this be comfortable?
Yes, but give it some time. You will be sore after surgery and you need time to heal.
My tummy is numb. Will I ever have sensation again?
The nerves in your tummy have been cut by the incision and the skin has been stretched. In some cases, patients have a temporary numbing of the area, while in others, they feel increased sensations in some areas. As the skin stretches and relaxes and the nerves reconnect, the sensation will return. After the numbness, many patients feel a pins and needles sensation, which indicates that healing is taking place. Most patients recover their normal feeling within 6 to 18 months, depending on the patient, but the process is gradual. Most numbness occurs just above or below the navel.
It should be noted that a known rare, but permanent, complication of tummy tucks or abdominoplasty surgery is a permanent loss of sensation in parts of the abdomen, but this happens in a very small percentage of patients. When it does occur, it is normally just above or below the navel, although in very rare instances, it can be more generalized.
PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS TO TUMMY TUCK OR ABDOMINOPLASTY SURGERY
Will I regret my decision to get a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty?
Getting an abdominoplasty is a big change in most patients' lives. Recovering from surgery can be a difficult process for some. Along the way, many patients have second thoughts and begin to wonder whether they did the right thing. It is a normal reaction and generally passes as your body heals and you recover from the surgery. You also need to give your body time to settle into place as the swelling subsides before you judge how it looks. Give yourself time to heal and to get used to your waistline. Abdominoplasty patients have a high satisfaction rate after tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery.
I feel so depressed. Is this normal?
Surgery and anesthesia can be difficult on a person's body. Different people react differently. Some people have more depression after surgery of any kind than others. During the postsurgery recovery period there are things we want to do, but we're not yet ready to do—and it can be frustrating. This is normally a passing phase that shouldn't last long. Remember, you're not alone. Other patients experience these feelings too.
More Tummy Tuck FAQs
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