A tummy tuck is not always a cosmetic procedure. It can also be life-changing for those who have trauma to the area, lost a large amount of weight, or otherwise have loose skin that is inhibiting their lifestyle. No matter the reason, a tummy tuck requires a lot of recovery time. The following are some things you can expect as you recover from a tummy tuck:
What Can You Expect within the First Few Days After Your Tummy Tuck?
Before you leave the hospital or surgery center, make arrangements to have someone take you home and stay with you for a few days to help you if at all possible. During this phase, you will have drainage tubes in your abdomen. You will have very limited mobility and tightness. You will feel sore and may even walk in a hunched-over position for almost a week. You will have pain medication prescribed by your doctor. Make certain you take your medication as prescribed to avoid pain and setbacks.
What Happens After the First Few Weeks Following Your Tummy Tuck?
After a few weeks, you may still experience some soreness. Although you should be able to get around a little better, you need someone to help you around your home for any tasks that are more strenuous. Never try to lift anything heavy during this point in your recovery and avoid exercise. Your doctor likely will not yet release you to drive if you are still on prescription pain medication. You should be able to begin standing up straighter. Your doctor may instruct you to remove your drains at some point during this part of your recovery.
What Happens After the Next Few Weeks?
After the next several weeks, you should see your doctor for follow-up care. At this appointment, your doctor will check your incision and make sure you are healing. You may be released to go back to work as long as you do not do a strenuous job. If your job requires you to do some heavy lifting, your doctor will either have to remain off of work or write you a note so your employer can accommodate you until you are healed.
What Happens After a Couple Months?
At this point, you should be feeling somewhat normal. Your incision will not be fully healed, so avoid immersing yourself in a bathtub or swimming pool. Your doctor may release you to begin exercising again but get started gradually to see how you respond. Your abdominal muscles will still be healing, so you may notice more soreness than usual as you start to exercise again. Otherwise, you can resume most of your normal activities.
Share22 September 2022
My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.
