After a tummy tuck, you should be able to drive. But there are a few things to keep in mind: First, you shouldn’t drive long distances for at least 4–6 weeks after surgery. During this time, you might not be able to sit comfortably in a car seat for a long time, and you might need help getting in and out of the car.
Second, if you’re driving and feel pain or discomfort, you should pull over and rest until the pain goes away, which could take up to an hour. If the pain doesn’t go away, please call your doctor right away.
Read on to learn more about How Long After A Tummy Tuck Can I Drive, Mini Tummy Tuck Cost and What Affects the Cost of a Tummy Tuck?
How Long After A Tummy Tuck Can I Drive
WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER A TUMMY TUCK
You may notice some temporary signs of discomfort after your tummy tuck such as:
- an inability to stand fully upright for a couple of days or weeks,
- pain and bruising for a few weeks,
- swelling for several weeks or months, and
- numbness, a pulling sensation, and/or tightness and pain when you cough for weeks or months.
WHAT DOES A TUMMY TUCK SCAR LOOK LIKE?
Our surgeons will use special care and expertise to minimize the appearance of your scar. The size of your scar depends on the type of tummy tuck you have and the amount of skin we remove. In either case, we will make the incision where many undergarments and swimsuits will cover it.
- Mini tummy tuck scar — This procedure will have a shorter horizontal scar just above your pubic mound (skin above your pubic bone).
- Full tummy tuck scar — This procedure will have a longer horizontal or U-shaped scar above your pubic mound. This may stretch from hip bone to hip bone. If we create a new opening for your belly button, you will have a small circular scar too.
Your tummy tuck scar will thin and fade gradually over the course of one year. However, it will always be visible. For the best results, make sure to follow your surgeon’s instructions for tummy tuck recovery.
TUMMY TUCK RECOVERY TIME
Your plastic surgeon will see for you regular follow-up visits during your tummy tuck recovery, supporting you through it all. The most important thing to remember is that you should follow your surgeon’s aftercare instructions closely.
Recovery time for a tummy tuck varies, depending on factors like:
- the type of tummy tuck you have,
- your age and health, and
- following aftercare instructions.
In general, you can expect to:
- see an improvement in your abdomen’s appearance soon after your procedure. It will progress gradually as you are able to stand taller and your swelling and scars fade.
- return to work as early as two weeks after surgery. If your job involves lifting heavy objects daily, you will need to wait four to six weeks.
- feel like yourself again around two months after surgery.
- resume all activities three months after surgery.
- see your scar fade over several months to one year.
SUPPORT YOU’LL NEED AFTER SURGERY
It is important to have friends or family that will support your social and emotional health as you heal. You will need someone at home that can help you after your tummy tuck surgery — for at least a couple of days, but ideally much longer. Some of the reasons include:
- difficulty moving around when you return home from surgery. Walking, standing for a long time, bending, and lifting may all be a challenge.
- bending quickly or lifting too much — even a small child — can stretch or reopen your incision and prolong bleeding and swelling.
- not being able to drive for two weeks after surgery.
DAILY ACTIVITIES AFTER TUMMY TUCK
Drain Care
During your tummy tuck, we will place small drainage tubes near your incision to stop fluid from building up in that area while you heal. You will need to empty your drains several times a day. We will show you how to do this before you leave the hospital. Your drains will remain in place until we remove them in a follow-up visit around one to two weeks after surgery.
Scar Care
You will be able to start scar massage and use scar tapes or creams to minimize the appearance of your scar at least three weeks after surgery.
Mini Tummy Tuck Cost
A tummy tuck is a procedure that tightens the loose, sagging skin between your belly button and the pubic area. However, the scope of the process might vary, depending on your needs and preference. If you’ve ever considered the procedure, you’ve probably asked yourself, “how much does a mini tummy tuck cost?”
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the average cost of a mini tummy tuck stood at $6,092 in 2019. However, with the increasing cost of living, everything seems to be getting more expensive. It’s therefore likely that this figure has increased in the past few months. There are also additional expenses that come with the procedure. This puts the cost in the range of $3,000 to $15,000. You should consider these fees and expenses when researching a tummy tuck.
What is a Mini Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, refers to a surgical procedure that alters the abdominal skin, soft tissues, and fat. It doesn’t affect the abdominal muscles. Tummy tucks are used for the lower abdomen and also to contour the body into the desired shape. The procedure is ideal for people within their recommended weight range but who have an extra layer of skin or fat that they need to address.
During the procedure, the specialist attending to you joins the tissues in your lower abdomen together. The results of the surgery are not visible from the outside. They also trim the excess skin and lay it flat. Depending on how much fat is in the area, the specialist will also perform liposuction to remove any excess fat.
In some cases, a mini tummy tuck can get rid of certain stretch marks. However, their removal depends on their placement on your body and how much excess skin you have.
In cases of diastasis recti, which is the separation of ab muscles, a full tummy tuck is a better option. The condition mostly happens during pregnancy, affecting the entire area above and below the navel.
What Affects the Cost of a Tummy Tuck?
Many factors come into play when determining the cost of a tummy tuck.
The extent of the procedure. In some cases, all that is involved in a tummy tuck is tightening the loose, sagging skin below the navel. However, the process is customizable to meet your needs and preferences. Depending on how much work the surgeon has to do, the procedure can either be a full, mini, or extended tummy tuck.
A mini tummy tuck that only addresses the loose skin may cost between $4,000 and $5,000. A traditional tummy tuck may cost between $8,000 and $10,000, while an extended tummy job may be worth up to $20,000.
The size of the area. If the procedure only entails tightening loose skin and eliminating fat from the lower abdomen, the cost will be relatively low. However, when you need a full tummy tuck, the procedure’s scope calls for more expenses. This is because it involves both the upper and lower abdomen. Extended tummy tucks are also more expensive because they involve the front side, back, and sides.
The volume of fat removed. The extent of the procedure can be fat removal, muscle tightening, skin lifting and tightening, and muscle reshaping or repairing. The more services you get during the process, the higher the cost will be.
The type of anesthesia used. The type and dosage of anesthesia you receive during a tummy tuck is another significant factor that affects the procedure’s cost. If you require a larger dose of anesthesia depending on the extent of the surgery, the price will be higher.
General anesthesia is usually more expensive than local anesthesia. The reason for this is that with local anesthesia, you may also have to take a sedative to help you sleep through the procedure, hence a lower dose. The cost of general anesthesia is between $425 and $1,800, while that of local anesthesia is between $500 and $3,500.
The number of procedures to be performed. In some cases, lifting and tightening your stomach skin is not enough to help you achieve your ideal aesthetic level. As such, you may be a good candidate for an extra procedure. Doing so will help to contour your body by removing excess fat. Liposuction is usually an ideal complementary procedure to tummy tuck as it draws more fat than a tummy tuck.
Preparing for a Tummy Tuck
Before you go in for a tummy tuck, your doctor may schedule you for a blood panel to ensure you’re in good health. You will also be required to:
- Stop smoking
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Stop taking anti-inflammatory drugs and some herbal supplements that can make bleeding worse or hinder clotting.