Tummy Tuck: Ways to Help Your Loved One Recover from Surgery

If you have a friend or family member about to get a tummy tuck, and you have been chosen as the caretaker for the recovery period, there are a few guidelines to remember. Following a few tips can help you ensure that your loved one heals properly and quickly. Consider some of the best ways to help a friend or relative going through this procedure.

Most patients getting a tummy tuck have to go under general anesthesia during the procedure, which means that they cannot drive afterward. Painkillers also keep most patients from operating a vehicle after surgery, and if they do not take their medication in the hopes of driving home, their pain can keep them from safely returning home anyway. If you want to ensure your loved one is comfortable and safe after surgery, give him or her a ride to and from the appointment. You typically have to stay there in the waiting room during the procedure, so be sure to ask the staff before you leave to run errands. Also, make sure you have enough time on the way home to pick up any prescriptions, such as antibiotics and prescription painkillers.

Once you get your friend or relative home, you should make sure he or she stays on the couch or bed. Help him or her get comfortable so that it is easy to rest. Most patients watch television or read most of the day during the first 48 hours or so of recovery, but they also tend to sleep a lot, so have some pillows and blankets available. You should also place any medications nearby so it is easy to take them, and then keep a glass of water or juice nearby, too. If you cannot stay with your loved one for the first day of recovery, at least set up the area and then be prepared to call to check in occasionally.

If you have the time available, it is always nice to stay with the patient to make sure he or she is eating and drinking regularly. It is normal for patients not to have much of an appetite at first, but after about a day, they need something to eat. Since most people cannot get up comfortably after a tummy tuck to make themselves food, it is nice to cook for them or at least make a few snacks accessible to them. Consider putting snacks or meals in a cooler by their couch or bed if you will not be there during the recovery period.

Your friend or family member may also need help getting dressed, walking to the bathroom, or staying clean, so be prepared to help with these tasks, at least for the first day or two. It may be a difficult few days for both of you after a tummy tuck, but the result should be worth it. Plus, now you will have someone to return the favor someday and care for you when you are sick, disabled, or healing from surgery.