Post-surgery Tips to Follow After Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is a safe procedure that is considered as the safest and most effective procedure to cut out the seemingly impossible belly fat which does not respond to diet and exercises. However, abdominoplasty requires the patients to endure a recovery period after following the procedure. So in order to achieve the best results, it is very important to get a clear idea about the post-op instructions that are provided by the surgeon. Following are a few things that patients must follow after undergoing a Tummy Tuck procedure-

• Maintaining a proper diet both before and after the surgery- It is very important for the patients to be careful about the condition of the body and maintain the current body weight. It is not at all recommended to attempt starting to shed pounds immediately before undergoing the surgery. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and continuing a balanced diet during the recovery period helps the patients to heal completely. A surgeon will always provide the best post-op instructions to their patients to ensure that the patients do not experience any major complications during the recovery period.
• Avoid infections- Every surgical procedure is associated with some or other risks, but the surgeon will provide the best tips to avoid any complication. Immediately after completing the procedure, the incisions are typically sutured up with elastic bandages and dressings to make sure that the incisions do not get exposed to germs and bacteria. Additionally, the patient are also provided with certain antibiotics both before and after undergoing the procedure to avoid any chances of infection.
• Prevent constipation- This is another very important aspect that should be informed to the surgeons prior to the surgery because the prescribed medications for pain may result in constipation. However, it is also very important for the patients to maintain a healthy diet and keep the body hydrated during the recovery period.
• Listen to the body and the doctor as well– Not all people have the same recovery period. There are some patients who can return to work only a week after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure. However, some additional time may also be required to recover completely from the procedure. So it is very important to discuss with the doctor about the recommended time to stay home from work and listen to the body until it heals completely.
• Need someone for help during the recovery time- Immediately after undergoing the procedure the patient will not be able to walk fully for the first few days. The doctors usually recommend the patients to take mild walks during the recovery period and a recliner may also be used while sleeping. So a helping hand is required who can at least help the patients to move or sit or to stand up.
• Rest your body- The surgeons usually restrict the activities during the recovery period and instructs the patients to continue only the minimum movements that may be required in the abdomen. Strenuous activities, exercises are strictly avoided until the patient recovers completely. yes, it takes quite a lot of time to recover after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure, but overstraining the body too early is not at all recommended.
• Some pain is expected- The patients after following the tummy tuck procedure definitely experience some major pain as a result of tightening the abdominal muscle. Patients may also feel some tightened and tenderness at the incision sites for a couple of weeks and minor pains up to a month. The surgeon provides medication for pain during the recovery period to make sure that the patients are comfortable.
• Prohibit alcohol consumption and smoking- The patients are strictly instructed to quit smoking and alcohol consumption both before and after undergoing the tummy tuck procedure since that may even worsen the condition. The nicotine content in the cigarette impairs the blood circulation process in the body and that may also result in impaired healing.
• Keep a realistic expectation of the procedure– A tummy tuck is not a simple procedure, it is a surgical procedure that involves a certain time to complete the recovery of the patients. The surgeon usually explains everything related to the procedure before undergoing the surgery, they leave no stone unturned to ensure that their patients achieve the best result. But it is also important for the patients to keep a realistic expectation from the procedure.