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Recovery from Tummy Tuck Surgery
Reviewed by Edward A.
Pechter, MD, FACS
Abdominoplasty is a significant procedure. Some patients may require a brief
hospitalization or stay in a recovery center, depending on their general
health and the extent of the procedure. Most patients require 1 to 3 weeks
recovery time before returning to work and 4 to 8 weeks before resumption of
exercise or strenuous activity. Recovery from a mini tummy tuck is usually
more rapid.
Following surgery, you may be wrapped in bandages or placed in a compression
garment to minimize swelling and support the abdomen as it heals. Small,
thin tubes called drains may be left in place under the skin to collect any
excess blood or fluid that may form. These will be slipped out after a few
days when the amount of drainage has diminished. Your doctor may recommend
the use of a pain control pump. This is a separate small tube that drips a
continuous infusion of local anesthetic under the skin into the surgical
site. This may diminish the amount of postoperative pain and make moving
around easier during the first few days after surgery. Bandages will be
changed within 2 to 5 days following surgery and if non-absorbable stitches
have been used they will be removed 7 to 10 days after the procedure. Your
doctor will tell you when it is safe to shower or bathe.
Your abdomen will feel sore and it may be hard to stand up straight for the
first few days. Your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to make you more
comfortable. Swelling may remain for a few weeks and your pants and skirts
may actually fit a little more snugly during this stage. Numbness may be
present for six months or more and feeling may never return to some areas.
Scars are the skin’s way of healing so some scarring is inevitable when
surgical incisions are made. Tummy tuck surgery will produce a scar across
the lower abdomen. A scar may also appear around the belly button. The
healing process and scar visibility differ from person to person. Scars
usually fade with time but some residual scarring will remain. Your plastic
surgeon will do his/her best to make the incisions in areas that will be
hidden beneath clothing or within the belly button. The scars may appear to
get worse during the first few months and may take 9 to 12 months before
they flatten and lighten in color. Although the results of abdominoplasty
are generally permanent the outcome can be diminished by significant weight
fluctuation.
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