After having a tummy tuck, you’ve been told that you’ll need 8–9 weeks for full recovery. But the swelling and soreness haven’t gone away after three weeks. You start to worry what’s wrong with you because you think you’re recuperating more slowly than usual (you have checked out any serious medical conditions, right?). Here are some things to remember to help ease your mind as you wait for your stomach tuck incision to heal.
If you’re thinking about getting a stomach tuck (abdominoplasty), you should know that there’s some time spent recuperating afterward. There are no magic bullets or quick fixes that can speed up the recovery procedure.
Read on to learn more on How Long Does It Take For Tummy Tuck To Heal, Lower Abdominal Swelling After Tummy Tuck and Swelling After Tummy Tuck 3 Weeks
How Long Does It Take For Tummy Tuck To Heal
Swelling in the lower abdominal area after tummy tuck surgery is a perfectly normal and expected part of the healing process.
Tummy tuck surgery causes changes to the patient’s lymphatic drainage system. In particular, the plastic surgeon pulls tight the abdominal skin and relocates it in a new position, similar to a facelift. As a result, the blood vessels and lymphatic vessels in the area that used to drain fluid upwards are now divided.
New lymphatic connections will form with time, but fluid cannot be drained through the lymphatic drainage vessels until then. Instead, it flows down with gravity. In addition, scar tissue stops the fluid from migrating. This fluid buildup that makes the tummy area grow larger is known as swelling or edema.
The extent of swelling may also depend on the type of tummy tuck surgery. A mini tummy tuck usually results in less swelling and recovery time than a traditional tummy tuck. Moreover, combining a tummy tuck surgery with liposuction in the abdomen or other parts of the body often produces more swelling in the affected areas.
Another thing to keep in mind is that pain medications also play a part in producing swelling in the abdomen. Pain medications may slow down the gastrointestinal tract and cause constipation and bloating. This is only temporary, though, and resolves when the patient no longer needs the medication.
HOW LONG DO YOU STAY SWOLLEN AFTER A TUMMY TUCK?
The patient’s abdominal area is visibly swollen over the first few days after tummy tuck surgery. The area around the scars is usually where swelling persists for longer.
Minor swelling continues to exist in the area for around two months, but its extent depends on the patient’s aftercare routine and daily activities. For example, standing up for long hours will probably cause the abdominal muscles to grow large again. However, a good night’s sleep will help reduce the swelling and speed up the recovery process. In some cases, minor swelling can persist up to one year after surgery, but most patients have gotten rid of swelling after 18 months.
Being patient and following your plastic surgeon’s aftercare instructions is the key to effectively resolving swelling and puffiness after a traditional tummy tuck or a mini tummy tuck. Patients with a strong immune system, who stick to their doctor’s post-operative care instructions, heal faster and better.
If you had your tummy tuck surgery at the European Institute of Plastic Surgery (EIPS), Dr. Stavrou would always be eager to answer all your questions during and in between your follow-up visits.
HOW TO REDUCE SWELLING AFTER A TUMMY TUCK
Wearing a compression garment as directed by the plastic surgeon is one of the most crucial steps of post-operative care that speeds up the recovery process and helps relieve feelings of discomfort.
The patient should avoid any strenuous exercise and excessive movement after surgery. A good idea would be to go shopping before the surgery to ensure there is plenty of food, water and anything else they might need at home during the first days of healing.
Even though swelling is a natural part of the recovery process, here are 10 doctor-approved tips that can help reduce the severity of swelling after a tummy tuck.
10 TIPS TO REDUCE SWELLING
TUMMY TUCK COMBINED WITH LIPOSUCTION OR A MOMMY MAKEOVER
Patients who choose to combine a tummy tuck with liposuction or a Mommy Makeover should expect more persistent swelling in the affected areas. Again, it is normal for the healing process to last longer for patients who underwent a combination of plastic surgeries. However, most women find it worth the swelling, as this combination of procedures resculpts the body beautifully, leaving a firmer, more pleasing silhouette. Apart from a tummy tuck, Mommy Makeover may also include an arm lift, breast lift, and liposuction of the abdomen and thighs.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The tummy tuck is a particularly transformative procedure. That means for the final results to be visible, it might take weeks, months, or even longer. Additional plastic surgery, such as stomach liposuction, will further increase the recovery time and swelling.
Patients need to have patience throughout the healing process, trust their plastic surgeon and follow the post-operative care instructions precisely to see the swelling subside and incisions fade the soonest possible.
Swelling After Tummy Tuck 3 Weeks
I know that it is normal to have swelling after a tummy tuck, but I am still having a lot of swelling and soreness in my abdomen.
I am three weeks post surgery and I am still extremely swollen. The incisions are healing nicely but I am still very sore. My doctor has told me that this is normal and to call if my symptoms last longer than six weeks.
I have been using ice packs and taking lots of Tylenol but I am still in a lot of pain. Is there anything else I can do to help relieve the pain?\
I am 3 weeks post-op and I have swelling in my upper abdomen. Is this normal?
I am a little concerned about the swelling in my upper abdomen. I am hoping that it will go away with time. I had an abdominoplasty 3 weeks ago and noticed right after surgery that my upper stomach was very swollen and tender. The swelling has gone down considerably, but there is still some there.
My doctor said that he would give me pain meds to help with the pain, but he didn’t give me any before surgery or after surgery. He said that the pain after surgery would be worse than the pain during surgery (which it wasn’t).
The first few days were horrible! It felt like someone was trying to rip off my stomach muscles with their bare hands! The doctor did not give me any pain medication for this either – just Tylenol which barely helped at all!!
The second week was better but still painful – although not as bad as the first week when I had some really bad cramping pains around my belly button area where they put the drains in (they started draining more pus which stunk like crazy). Now they’re gone though…
Lower Abdominal Swelling After Tummy Tuck
Lower abdominal swelling after tummy tuck is a common problem, as the lower abdomen and upper buttock region tend to have more fluid retention than other areas of the body. This can be due to the type of anesthesia used during surgery, or it may be related to the fact that patients are laying flat for several days after surgery, which causes fluid to pool in their lower extremities. This is especially true for those who have had liposuction in this area.
The best way to deal with this issue is prevention. If your surgeon has not recommended using compression garments, ask about them. They are available at most pharmacies, and are designed to promote lymphatic drainage by compressing the area while allowing blood flow through the garment. The garments should be worn every day from day 1 until you return home from your stay at our facility. You should also elevate your feet as much as possible when sitting or lying down; this will help reduce swelling as well.
I am sorry to hear about your swelling. It is not unusual to have some swelling after a tummy tuck, but it should go away within the first few weeks. If you are still swollen at 3 months, I would recommend seeing your surgeon again so that they can assess your progress.
It sounds like you may have an infection or seroma collection. These are very common after surgery, but usually resolve on their own within 2-3 weeks. If you notice any redness or drainage from the incision site, this could be an infection and you should see your surgeon again immediately.
If there is no redness or drainage from the incision site, then I would recommend waiting 2 more weeks before seeing your surgeon again. The continued swelling is probably due to fluid accumulation under the skin known as a seroma. This is very common after tummy tuck surgery and usually resolves on its own in 2-3 weeks without any treatment needed other than monitoring by your surgeon during follow up visits to ensure there is no infection present as well