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If you can extend it to three weeks, it would be a luxury! Tip #9: Watch What You Eat (and Drink!) Before and After Surgery It's best to plan for at least two weeks off from work. Most patients are able to return to work after a week post-surgery, but you may not feel like doing so. Tip #8: Give Yourself Enough Time Off Work To avoid abdominal straining and overexerting yourself in the bathroom, ask your surgeon about over-the-counter stool softeners such as docusate sodium (Colace) a few days before surgery. Tip #7: Steer Clear from Constipation Early OnĪs a side effect of pain medications and anesthesia, it's not unusual to have difficulties with bowel movements following a tummy tuck. These steps include bathing with a chlorhexidine solution the night before surgery to help reduce bacterial contamination and reduce the chance of infection. Tip #6: Take Steps to Avoid Infection as Much as You Can This garment is designed to support the surgical area, which in turn will facilitate healing and reduce swelling. You may be discharged home wearing a garment. Tip #5: Wear Support Garments As Instructed You will need to refrain from lifting more than 10 pounds for about six weeks.
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Overdoing it can put you back to square one and lead to complications such as swelling and increased pain. While it's necessary for you to walk often during recovery, it's equally important not to avoid overexertion or to do anything strenuous for several weeks after surgery. Tip #4: Don't Overdo It With Physical ActivityĮven if you're feeling good, take it easy after surgery. Move in a way that is comfortable for you. You will probably feel more comfortable walking in a bent-over "little old lady" position for the first week, and that's okay. It's helpful to pump your leg muscles every hour or so while sitting down or lying in bed. At the same time, avoid excessive walking, prolonged standing, or lifting for the first week following surgery. You need to move around to get your muscles moving again and prevent blood clot formation in the legs. You will need help getting up and using the commode for the first few days, but don't spend all day sitting. It will eventually subside, but it's important to be mentally prepared for the procedure. Expect pain in the surgical area as well as your back. You will also feel sore and tight for about two weeks after surgery. Several activities will be restricted for the first few months too. Read More: 14 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Plastic Surgeon Tip #2: Have Realistic ExpectationsĪ tummy tuck can dramatically restore a more youthful silhouette to your waist, but it's at the cost of a slightly difficult recovery for the first few days or weeks. Fan will always have your best interests at heart. Also known for being brutally frank to patients, you can trust that Dr. Fan’s patients often remark about his aesthetically beautiful and natural results. A great plastic surgeon, however, has an innate eye for aesthetics and technical dexterity in body contouring surgeries.ĭr.
Things needed for tummy tuck recovery skin#
Fan, will give you the tummy tuck results you want, rather than performing a tummy tuck based on what is faster or easier.Ī good tummy tuck surgeon will get the job done, removing flabby skin and repairing weakened abdominal muscles. While there are certainly a good number of competent, experienced tummy tuck surgeons out there, only a few are truly committed to taking their time to understand your specific needs. She ended up with terrible results - persistent bulging of the abdomen due to incomplete skin removal, and a very thick, heavy scar due to poor stitching.Ĭlearly, the decision to have a tummy tuck is not something to be taken lightly, and the most important aspect of that decision is your surgeon of choice. In fact, the only anesthesia used was ice!īy the time she realized something fishy was definitely going on, it was too late for her to back out. After finding our San Francisco plastic surgery office, she recounted how she was awake the entire time the procedure was performed. One of the worst was a woman who underwent a tummy tuck in Mexico with disastrous results.
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Fan has seen the best and worst in tummy tuck results. Tip #1: Choose a Qualified, Trustworthy Tummy Tuck Surgeonĭr. Larry Fan when it comes to tummy tuck recovery. After all, every patient is different - from the tummy tuck variation that’s performed to how comfortable you are with physical activity post-surgery.īefore we get into the nitty-gritty of recovering from a tummy tuck without a hitch while getting the results you’re looking for at the same time, let’s take a look at why you should listen to Dr.
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As much as you’d like to think that the flab will go away instantly after surgery, the healing process following your tummy tuck takes weeks to months.
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