Tummy Tuck – Know What to Expect From the Recovery

A tummy tuck can be a great way to get a flatter stomach in a short period of time. Though exercise and a good diet are often recommended, sometimes they just do not work well enough. Many people are ecstatic about their results after the surgery, but before you make your appointment, you should learn about the recovery period.

You may never have noticed before, but your stomach is very much a part of the process of walking. That means that after your surgery, it will probably hurt to do much of anything, especially walk. For this reason, taking at least a week of work to recover is recommended, though some people need two weeks. In general, you can expect a period of up to about four weeks to feel completely healed from a tummy tuck.

You will probably spend at least one night in the hospital, and due to the fact that you will probably be on painkillers, you should have someone drive you home. The next few days will be filled with swelling, discomfort, and maybe pain, though it should be manageable after you take your painkillers. You may also have to drain your stomach area, which your doctor will show you how to do. Clearly, it may be helpful to have a friend check on you during the first few days, since it will be difficult to do much on your own.

Your stitches should be removed in about a week. At this time, even though you may not feel like it, your surgeon will probably recommend that you start walking a little bit. You do not have to take long walks, but even walking around the house or to the mailbox can help you recover faster. This should prohibit blood clots from forming in most cases.

You will be given a compression garment after the tummy tuck, as well as stockings to wear over your legs. This may seem odd since the surgery does not involve your legs, but the stockings are actually to prevent blood clots from forming, just like walking is. However, you will be advised to avoid strenuous exercise or very hard work, since this can increase the time it takes to heal.

In general, you should start to see and feel improvement a few weeks after a tummy tuck. You should also make sure that you ask your doctor about any concerns you have, so that if something is not right with the healing process, it can be fixed fast. You should see full results within a few months.