Every person will experience a different tummy tuck recovery period. If both you and a friend have the surgery, both of you will have very different recovery experiences. This is exactly the reason why it’s important to communicate clearly with your cosmetic surgeon about what you can personally expect for your tummy tuck recovery.
How You Will Feel
You can expect a ton of grogginess for the first 48 hours after your tummy tuck. This is due to the anesthesia used during the surgery. Once this grogginess wears off, you will start to feel some discomfort in your abdomen. This is a surgery that most people come back from fairly quickly, so this discomfort should not last long. Your scar and the area around the scar will be sensitive to the touch for quite some time. Be prepared to give your tummy tuck recovery a good few weeks before you get back to your normal schedule.
How You Will Look
Swelling, numbness, and bruising should be expected during your tummy tuck recovery. You may need to have a drain placed inside your wound to release any fluid that forms in your body as a result of the surgery. These drains can be expected to be removed about two weeks after the surgery. You may also be required to wear an elastic support around your abdomen for several weeks after your tummy tuck. This support allows you to heal properly and keeps everything where it should be. Most of the sutures and stitches that are used for a tummy tuck will dissolve over time. If they are the type that do not dissolve, you will have to schedule a follow up appointment to have them removed. You can expect your belly button to look swollen and a bit different than normal for a while during your tummy tuck recovery.
How to Take Care of Yourself
You will need lots of rest during your tummy tuck recovery. Consult with your cosmetic surgeon about the best ways for you to lie in order to get a good amount of sleep without damaging your incisions. Your doctor may suggest hot tub soaks or sponge baths for the first few days immediately following your surgery. This is to help prevent any infection and to keep the incisions clean. After your surgery, your doctor will let you know how much time to take off of work to fully recover. It is important not to do any type of lifting during your tummy tuck recovery. Following your doctor’s instructions is the best way to recovery quickly.
Pain Medication
Different types of pain medication and antibiotics will be prescribed to you by your doctor and surgeon. It is important to stick to the correct dosage amount. Pain will increase as the anesthesia wears off, but this is not a reason to overdose on your pain meds. You should only take enough medication to take some of the edge of the pain off, and then slowly taper your usage down gradually as you become healthier.