If you are thinking of having tummy tuck surgery to get a firmer and smaller abdomen, you need to be acquainted with what comes after, especially as it relates to your recovery.
“Gone are the days when a flat tummy was only seen on the pages of fashion magazines. Everyone can have their desired look, thanks to technological advancement”, says Dr. Arezou Yaghoubian. After a tummy tuck, you need to follow your surgeon’s instructions to have that perfect abdomen you so desire. A tummy tuck is not gender-specific because both men and women have that excess fat and skin around their stomachs.
You may find that your new diet and rigorous exercise is not yielding your ideal result because the abdominal muscles have grown weak. The tummy tuck surgery will remove excess skin and restore those weakened muscles.
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What is Tummy Tuck?
In medical terms, a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a cosmetic surgery designed to give your abdomen a much firmer look. The procedure eliminates excess fat and skin around the belly.
Abdominoplasty as a cosmetic surgery helps individuals struggling with pre-pregnancy tummies to regain their confident look. The tummy tuck focuses on making your abdomen both smaller and firmer.
Increasing body weight is normal, but having sagging or loose skin around the abdomen is why most people will go for a tummy tuck surgery.
Benefits of a Tummy Tuck
Choosing to get a tummy tuck can boost your self-esteem in addition to improving your looks. Here are the benefits that can come after a successful tummy tuck:
- Gives you a flatter and firmer stomach
- Helps with weight loss
- Restores your weak muscles and repairs their separation
- Provides you with a better abdomen contour and offers more mid-section
- Saves you the stress of having to hit the gym to achieve that perfection
What to Expect After a Tummy Tuck
After undergoing tummy tuck surgery, you won’t be able to bounce back fully to your activities. The medical practitioner in charge of caring for you will give you instructions on what to do to help with your recovery process.
Immediately after the surgeon clears you off for discharge from the hospital, you should have someone drive you home and tend to your needs, at least for the first few days of getting out of the hospital.
To help with your body fluid, there is a drainage tube attached to your skin. The surgeon will remove the drainage tube after 48 hours, and that is when you will be able to shower.
Your healthcare provider will also prescribe medications to help with the pain and prevent preoperative infection. You may also be given something to apply to the affected area to reduce pain or swelling.
Follow your surgeon’s instructions and avoid strenuous activities that might tamper with your healing. Also, avoid the intake of alcohol and quit smoking for the meantime until you’re in perfect condition.
Here are some other things that you should learn when going in for a tummy tuck consultation:
- How to care for the incision and drain tubes
- Things to avoid to prevent infection or any complication
- Physical activities to avoid for a period that may tamper with your incision line
- A time frame on when to revisit your surgeon
- How long to wear your abdominal pressure garment
- Types of foods or eat and to avoid
- How much to rest and not being stationed at a place for too long
Potential Complications That May Arise
It is normal to feel some pain after going under the knife. You can take the medications recommended to you for that pain, but you need to revert back to your surgeon if the pain becomes unbearable.
You may experience swelling in the affected area for a few months. If it goes beyond that, you will have to visit your surgeon.
The tightness you feel when you stand, and the bruises around the abdominal area are expected; however, you need to maintain full disclosure with your doctor. Additionally, the redness and fluid coming out of your scar will go away after a while, but if it lingers, you will have to schedule an impromptu appointment with your surgeon.
After Surgery Recovery Tips
Here are some steps you can follow to speed up the recovery process.
#1. Make a Change in Your Sleeping Position
After the tummy tuck surgery, you will have to sleep in an inclined position to relax the abdomen and rid it of pressure and stress. Your surgeon will teach you how best to position your upper body and knee to avoid swelling.
#2. Avoid Being in a Place for too Long.
Walking helps with your healing. Ensure you take a few minutes’ walks daily, which will help the flow of blood and decrease your chances of having blood clots around your knee.
#3. Avoid Strenuous Activities
You may want to refrain from activities that will slow down your healing process. Driving is one of those strenuous activities that can cause a strain on the affected area. Also, avoid strenuous exercises for three to six weeks after the surgery and give your body the rest it requires.
#4. Take Your Menu Seriously
Your body needs a good and healthy diet to regain what it has lost. You need to eat good and nutritious food that will help the body’s metabolism, including fruits, fiber, and vegetables. However, you should not take these foods in larger quantities.
#5. Keep Your Body Hydrated Always
It would be best if you had lots of water to help flush out the toxins in your body. Drinking lots of water reduces swelling in the affected area. It also reduces any risk of complications in the future.
Conclusion
You can actualize your dream abdomen contours by getting a tummy tuck. All you have to do is follow the due process and take your healing seriously. Also, be sure to visit your surgeon at the appointed time.
