You need to take care of yourself after a tummy tuck surgery to avoid problems, but you should also be able to enjoy your new look and feel good about your body. As soon as the pain is manageable and you can get around with only a little help, you can start bathing yourself.
Baths are good for your health because they help reduce pain and swelling and speed up the healing process. You can also get a good look at your new body after surgery by taking a bath. When you take your first shower or bath after surgery, it’s normal for the area around the incision to be swollen and bruised. This is nothing to worry about; it should go away in a few days or weeks. Call our office if you have any questions or concerns about taking a bath or shower after surgery.
Read on to learn more. How Long After A Tummy Tuck Can I Take A Bath, How Long After Tummy Tuck Can You Have A Bath
How Long After A Tummy Tuck Can I Take A Bath
A tummy tuck (also called an abdominoplasty) focuses on reducing loose skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the underlying muscles, making the waistline slimmer and more contoured. When combined with liposuction, tummy tucks provide women with the confidence they need to wear well-fitted outfits and feel their best in all kinds of social situations in New Orleans, LA.
While tummy tuck surgery does produce gorgeous body contouring results, many people are concerned about recovery. During this time, it’s important to be extremely careful with your body. One of the questions we get at New Orleans Plastic Surgery is when patients can take a bath after the surgery. Plastic and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michelle Eagan addresses this concern below and encourages patients to get an assessment to learn more about post-operative care.
How is a tummy tuck done?
A tummy tuck procedure is done using general anesthesia. Dr. Eagan begins by placing a thin incision along the lower abdomen just above the pubic hairline. However, some patients may require a less invasive technique based on their needs. Once the loose skin is removed, we may employ a liposuction technique to remove small fat pockets. Finally, Dr. Eagan will tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall, creating a firmer midsection and flatter stomach.
What is involved with tummy tuck recovery?
All patients are informed about post-operative care before their procedure. This includes instructions about side effects, medications, and wearing a compression garment to reduce swelling. Patients should take time off from work after body contouring and avoid strenuous activities. Having a friend or loved one to assist with daily tasks will be extremely helpful, especially in the beginning when discomfort prevents you from standing upright or walking.
When can I take baths again?
Patients should not submerge their abdomen in water for up to six weeks after tummy tuck surgery and liposuction. This includes baths, swimming pools, and other bodies of water. Instead, take showers to wash the area with lukewarm water. We can provide information about gentle soaps and products you can use. When you’re not in the shower, keep the incision site clean and covered with a sterile bandage. This prevents complications, like infection.
A few tips about caring for incision site in the days and weeks after surgery in New Orleans:
- Check the site daily for signs of infection, like redness and swelling
- Avoid applying lotions or ointments to the wound unless directed by Dr. Eagan or the staff
- Do not stretch out the skin
- Avoid wearing constrictive clothing over the incision site
- Light, gentle massaging when cleared by Dr. Eagan can help improve swelling
How Long After Tummy Tuck Can You Have A Bath
The first week after surgery, your belly will hurt and swell up. As you heal, you may need to wear a compression garment. For a few weeks or months, most of the skin on your stomach will be numb. Slowly, you’ll start to feel again. When you’re getting better, it’s normal to feel tired. Your energy might not come back for 5 to 6 weeks.
When you first get home, you might not be able to stand up straight, but this will get better. To get back to normal, you’ll need to get up and walk every day. Move your feet and legs often between walks.
The scar from a tummy tuck is long, but it will fade over time. You may also have a small scar right next to your belly button.
This care sheet gives you a general idea of how long it will take you to get better. But everyone gets better at different rates. Follow these steps to feel better as soon as possible.
What can you do at home to take care of yourself?
Activity
When you’re tired, take a break. You will feel better if you get enough sleep.
Try walking every day. Start by walking a bit more than you did the day before. Gradually increase how much you walk. Walking increases the flow of blood and helps keep you from getting pneumonia and constipation.
For 6 to 8 weeks, you should avoid abdominal exercises and hard activities like riding a bike, jogging, lifting weights, and aerobic exercise.
Don’t lift anything that would make you strain for 6 weeks. This could include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child.
Ask your doctor when you can get back behind the wheel.
Most people can go back to work within two to three weeks after surgery. It depends on what you do for a living and how you feel.
You can take a shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, or after the drains are taken out. Dry the cut with a towel. Do not take a bath for the first two weeks or until your doctor says it is okay.
Talk to your doctor about when you can have sex.
When Can You Take Bath After Tummy Tuck
Before undergoing tummy tuck surgery, it is important you know what to expect after you have had the procedure. So, we have created a guide to explain what happens after surgery, how long recovery will last and how quickly you can return to your regular day-to-day activities.
What to expect after abdominoplasty surgery
After you have undergone tummy tuck surgery, you will need to stay in the hospital for one to four nights so that your healthcare team can monitor you and check you are recovering well.
You will feel quite sore and tight across your tummy, so you will be prescribed pain medication to help you feel more comfortable.
Your tummy will be swollen initially, but the swelling will reduce over the following weeks.
A compression garment will be fitted around your tummy, which you will need to wear for at least six weeks to help reduce swelling and bruising and help your stomach tissue heal and keep its correct shape.
You will need someone to drive you home from the hospital, and you may benefit from having someone to help you around the house with day-to-day activities for the first couple of weeks while your movement is restricted.
You must take plenty of time to rest following your abdominoplasty surgery to allow your body to heal and recover.
What can you not do after a tummy tuck?
As a tummy tuck involves making an incision from one hip to the other, you must avoid certain movements and activities to reduce the risk of damaging your stitches.For the first few days following surgery, you will not be able to stand fully straight as this will pull on your stitches, so you will need to keep a slight bend at the hips.
Lying flat with your legs extended out in front is to be avoided in the first few weeks to prevent tearing your stitches, so it is recommended to either sleep in a recliner chair or to place pillows under your knees to keep them bent.
You will need to take time off work for the first two to four weeks following surgery so you can rest and recover; you will also not be able to undertake any strenuous exercise, raise your arms, or lift weights for at least six to twelve weeks.
While taking pain medication, it is also recommended you avoid alcohol.
How long does the pain last after a tummy tuck?
You will feel sore for the first few days following surgery, so you will be prescribed pain medication to help you feel more comfortable. However, the discomfort should begin to subside within the first couple of weeks.
How long does it take to fully recover from a tummy tuck?
The type of tummy tuck you have had and how quickly your body heals will impact how long tummy tuck recovery lasts. However, most people will be fully recovered within four to eight weeks.
How long after a tummy tuck can I drive?
Simple movements such as twisting to check your blind spot, turning the steering wheel, or opening and closing a car door can all compromise your wound healing and cause discomfort, which is why it is recommended you avoid driving for the first few weeks after surgery.
Your healthcare team will advise you when it is safe for you to resume driving, however, most people are usually able to start driving again within two to four weeks.
How long after a tummy tuck can I take a bath?
As with all surgical procedures, you should not submerge your wound in water until it has fully healed. Instead, doctors usually recommend that patients have a sponge bath for the first few days after surgery and lukewarm showers for the first few weeks.
When can you lay flat after a tummy tuck?
Laying flat on your back following a tummy tuck could pull on your stitches and cause damage to your wound. Therefore, it is recommended that you lay with a pillow under your knees in the first few weeks to keep them bent or in a recliner chair.
It can take up to two to four weeks until you can safely lay flat, however, your doctor will advise you on this.