Swimming after a tummy tuck is a personal choice. If you are considering swimming, be sure to discuss this with your surgeon first. It is important to follow the instructions you have been given about your recovery and healing. Your surgeon will advise you on how long it will be safe for you to swim. You may find that waiting until after 6 weeks from your surgery is best, but this will depend on your body type, how well it has healed, and whether or not there are any complications after surgery.
If you do choose to swim during this time, it’s important to take extra precautions while doing so including: wearing a bathing suit that fits comfortably over bandages or stitches; avoiding rough surfaces like sand; keeping water out of wounds; avoiding contact with chlorine or other chemicals in pools; avoiding deep water activities like diving until fully healed; never swimming alone; and taking care not to disturb any dressings or bandages while swimming (including those on breasts).
Read on to learn more about How Long After A Tummy Tuck Can I Swim, Lying Down On A Bed After A Tummy Tuck, How To Improve Sleep After A Tummy Tuck and Wear Compression Garments While You Sleep
How Long After A Tummy Tuck Can I Swim
You should plan on waiting at least six weeks following tummy tuck surgery to go swimming. This is equally true of taking a bath or anything that would require extended contact between incisions and water. While it is absolutely vital that you use a gentle soap and water to keep incisions clean during the tummy tuck recovery process, soaking them can have adverse effects.
When you come to Renaissance Plastic Surgery for a tummy tuck, Dr. Fata will carefully review pre and postoperative instructions, helping ensure you are fully prepared for what happens before, during, and after the procedure. During this time, any questions you have about tummy tuck recovery, including when you can resume more demanding physical activities and when it will be safe to swim or bathe, can be answered in detail. This varies, to an extent, from patient to patient. In follow-up visits, which are included in the initial cost of your tummy tuck procedure, Dr. Fata will better be able to gauge your progress and help you decide when it is okay to return to life as normal.
Soaking incisions can result in a thicker and more obvious scar. So too can allowing them to become infected. Cleaning your incisions and keeping them dry will help prevent this issue. Of course, it would be dishonest to suggest tummy tuck scars will be entirely unnoticeable, but Dr. Fata takes great care to minimize their appearance. You can assist in this effort and help enhance your final results by not swimming or engaging in other contraindicated activities prior to getting the okay from our board-certified plastic surgeon.
Lying Down On A Bed After A Tummy Tuck
Because the tissues of the lower abdomen are stretched tight after a tummy tuck, it’s critical to maintain a “bent” or “jackknifed” body shape, whether walking, standing or climbing into bed.
When going from a standing to lying down position, pay particular attention to the shape of your body. Ideally, you’ll want to maintain a bent shape throughout the process, ensuring that you do not put any undue strain on the stitching.
Before getting into a lying down position, make sure that the bed or recliner is the right shape to accommodate a bent posture. Next, sit on the side of the bed with your knees facing outward, maintaining the flexion in your core. Next, swivel your legs onto the bed so that they face in front of you. Finally, lower your torso down. You should not have to lower yourself over too far a distance if you are sleeping on a recliner or a bed that raises.
Practice Sleeping On Your Back
If you’re a front or side sleeper, sleeping on your back after a tummy tuck can feel unnatural. It’s a good idea, therefore, to practice sleeping on your back for a few weeks before the surgery so that once you’ve had the operation, you’re better able to get the shut-eye you need. Being able to sleep will help the recovery process, allowing you to get back on your feet sooner.
Sleeping Options After A Tummy Tuck
In general, you’ve got two sleeping options after a tummy tuck. The first is to modify your bed with pillows to provide a raised-up section for your torso so that you can maintain a bent posture during sleep. This has the advantage of being a simple solution – all it requires is a few extra pillows. But there are disadvantages, namely the fact that when you’re sleeping on a bed, you’re free to toss and turn. Moreover, the pillows supporting your torso to maintain a bent posture can slip out from underneath during the night, putting your stitching at risk.
The alternative is to sleep on a recliner. Recliners hold your body in position and discourage turning during the night. Some recliners can be set to raise both your head and feet, maintaining a comfortable V-shape throughout. Of course, if you don’t have a recliner already but want the benefits, then you’ll have to go out and buy one which could be expensive.
Wear Compression Garments While You Sleep
Compression garments are items of clothing that support your midriff and temporarily and offer support to the abdominal muscles after surgery. There are many different kinds of compression garments you can use – everything from binders to girdles. Where possible, follow the advice of your surgeon and wear compression clothing according to their instructions. Compression clothing should be worn at all times of day, including during sleep.
Following surgery, you are likely to experience a degree of inflammation in your abdomen. Compression clothing helps to support your stomach while it is inflamed, assisting the recovery process.
How To Get Out Of Bed
Because of the nature of the incision after a tummy tuck, patients need to be careful when getting out of bed not to over-stretch the skin of the lower abdomen. When getting out of bed, roll onto your side, maintaining flexion at the hips, and then use your hands to push yourself up into a seated position. Once in the seated position, rock forwards and use the muscles in your legs to help you stand.
Maintaining a bent position at all times is essential. Not only will this prevent damage to the incision site, but it will also help to reduce the appearance of the scar once all the stitching is removed.
How To Improve Sleep After A Tummy Tuck
Tummy tucks involve removing a large amount of tissue. The natural reaction of the body is to send inflammatory markers to the site of the operation, which can result in swelling and pain. It can be difficult, therefore, to get quality, restful sleep after a tummy tuck. So what can you do to ensure that you get the rest that you need to recover?
Take Pain Medications
Pain medications can be taken before bed to help ease discomfort as you try to sleep for the first few days after receiving a tummy tuck. Avoid using painkillers which contain stimulants as these may prevent you from sleeping.
Make Getting Into Bed A Ritual
Much of what our brains do is unconscious, including getting ready for sleep. It’s a good idea, therefore, to train your mind to be prepared for rest as soon as you hit the sack. You can do this by turning the process of getting into bed into a ritual. Before you undergo surgery, start sleeping in a recliner, or a reclined position. Train yourself to expect sleep once in this position by turning off the lights and electronic devices.
Talk To Your Surgeon
Your surgeon will likely have a lot of experience helping patients sleep after a tummy tuck. Speak to them about your options and how you can sleep better during the most critical phases of the recovery process.
Tummy Tuck Vs Liposuction
Tummy tucks differ from liposuction. Tummy tucks involve removing skin, while liposuction refers to the removal of fat under the skin.