The following is an excerpt from our new e-book, A patient’s guide to tummy tuck surgery.
Tummy tuck surgery involves the major muscles of your abdomen, so taking good care of yourself afterward is very important. At your consultation, you can ask any questions about recovery to help you prepare for time off and reduced activity after your procedure. Most tummy tuck patients will tell you that a small period of recovery is well worth the beautiful abdomen they achieved.
After the surgery, you will have dressings or bandages over your incision. In some cases, you may have some thin tubes inserted to help with any fluid drainage. These are needed only for a short period of time as recommended by your surgeon. You’ll be given instructions on how to clean your incision and when you can take a shower. You will also wear a special compression garment designed to help you heal more quickly. This keeps swelling down, and you may find that it feels comfortable to have its support.
It’s important to follow up with your surgeon as recommended after the surgery. He or she will monitor your progress and healing. Initially, your body will experience some swelling. Your full results won’t be seen until this swelling goes down and your body has had time to heal. This usually takes a few months, so don’t be disappointed if you don’t see your desired results immediately. This is the case with almost any surgical procedure.
You may also have trouble standing up straight for several days as your abdomen heals. This is normal, and you shouldn’t try to force it. Before long, you’ll be standing tall and really noticing how flat your new tummy is going to be.
Download your free copy of A patient’s guide to tummy tuck surgery from our e-book library.
GLOW Surgical Arts offers a variety of cosmetic surgery and minimally invasive procedures to help you look and feel more attractive. Request a free consultation online, or call GLOW Surgical Arts at (650) 241-2209.