Tummy Tuck Recovery Tips 10 Things You Should Know

If you’re planning to undergo a tummy tuck, it’s important to prepare yourself for the recovery process. One of the most crucial tips to stand up straight after Tummy Tuck is try not to get in the completely upright position immediately. Although its a slow and gradual process because the abdominal muscles are still sore. By being informed about what to expect, you can take steps to prepare for a smoother recovery.

With that in mind, here are ten tips to help you recover successfully after a tummy tuck:

Table of Contents

• 1. TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY: DIFFERENCES WITH YOUR CLOTHES AND SCALE
• 2. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO STAND UP STRAIGHT FOR A WHILE
• 3. YOU’LL BE IN PAIN, BUT IT CAN BE MANAGED!
• 4. YOU’LL NEED LOTS OF HELP AROUND THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS
• 5. YOUR FIRST SHOWER WILL BE HARDER THAN EXPECTED
• 6. EXPECT EMOTIONAL SWINGS
• 7. BE PREPARED FOR SWELLING. LOTS OF SWELLING.
• 8. YOU’LL BE SUPER FATIGUED
• 9. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO DRIVE FOR 10 -14 DAYS.
• 10. IT’LL TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO FEEL TOTALLY BACK TO YOURSELF
  • WHEN CAN I STAND STRAIGHT AFTER TUMMY TUCK?
  • How long will I be hunched over after Tummy Tuck procedure?
  • LEARN MORE TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY TIPS?

1. TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY: DIFFERENCES WITH YOUR CLOTHES AND SCALE

A San Francisco tummy tuck surgery with liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure per se. To the disappointment of many patients, the scale actually may go up for the first few weeks after surgery. This is due to swelling and inflammation during which the body tends to retain more water than it usually does. It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks before the swelling goes down significantly, and with it the scale goes down too.

Because of the swelling, your pre-surgery clothes may feel a little snug. As the swelling dissipates, you’ll be happy to find that your clothes may now be too loose! My advice is to be patient, as this is a process and it may take 3 to 6 months, sometimes even up to a year for the swelling to resolve completely.

2. YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO STAND UP STRAIGHT FOR A WHILE

During tummy tuck surgery, your muscles are tightened and excess skin is removed. There are multiple layers of sutures inside holding everything in its new belly button configuration. Because skin is pulled taut, you’ll be bent over for the first week or two until the skin begins to relax and you can stand up. You may feel achiness or soreness in your lower back from being bent over and from spending a lot of time in bed. Here are some things that can help:

• Rest in a beach chair position. Although it may not be as fun as sitting on a real beach, it’ll be a comfortable way for you to rest. This means having your back elevated, and your hips flexed by placing pillows under your knees.
• Ben-Gay and Icy Hot can ease the achiness in your lower back. Be careful when using heating pads because your skin may be numb and you may not feel it get too hot!

3. YOU’LL BE IN PAIN, BUT IT CAN BE MANAGED!