What To Expect After The Tummy Tuck

How long it takes to heal after your tummy tuck will depend on a wide variety of factors including what type of procedure your surgeon used for your tummy tuck, your overall health and age and if you had multiple procedures done in conjunction with your tuck. It is not uncommon for people who have a tummy tuck to also have some liposuction done at the same time to remove excessive fatty deposits in the abdominal area. And many women who undergo a tummy tuck after a pregnancy will also have a breast lift done to complete the whole mommy make over package.

For most patients; however, it can take at least several weeks to a month before they report feeling back to themselves as the soreness, swelling and bruising subside and this is a normal part of the healing process. After surgery, depending on how much work you had done and how well your body responded, you will either be discharged for home care or will spend at least one night in the hospital. If you go home after surgery you should expect to go home with a drainage tube, which will likely be removed the next day by a medical professional. This tube helps to drain excessive fluids and blood that can pool up after any surgery. Drainage tubes are a common way to help prevent infection from setting in and most patients will have one installed.

You will also have some stitches and surgical dressing that will be removed in stages as you recover. Your surgical dressing will be changed out and removed within a few days and your stitches will likely be the last thing removed about a week after surgery.
Your doctor will want you on bed rest the first 24 hours, especially with a drainage tube in place, but you will also need to be as active as you can safely be, to avoid getting blood clots which are a common risk factor after any surgery. Being active can be as simple as walking to the bathroom the first 24 hours and increasing your activity as you heal. Be sure to discuss your planned activity level with your doctor so you will know exactly what the perimeters are.

Your doctor will also require you to wear an abdominal binder under your clothes for the first few weeks to help prevent blood clots from forming in your legs. Blood clots are a common after affect from any surgery and a natural way the body attempts to prevent you from bleeding too much. However, blood clots can travel through the blood stream and cause serious problems if they are undetected. You need to take every precaution to prevent them from forming by being as active as possible and wearing an abdominal binder.

Be sure to discuss with your doctor all the possible side effects, complications and risk factors and which surgical method they will be using on your tummy tuck since this can affect your overall healing time.