Now that you’ve had an abdominoplasty (or tummy tuck), you may be wondering how soon you’ll know the results. In order to accomplish this, there are two mandatory procedures you must observe: You should first be patient and let your body a few months to acclimate to the new routine. The only way to determine where the water is coming from is to do a drainage test. I’ll go into greater detail below.
The primary concern following a belly tuck operation is how long it will take to feel back to normal. How long will I need to rest in bed? Four days? Forty? A week? Your Plastic Surgeon will offer you detailed post-op care recommendations before you go under the knife. They’ll probably tell you it takes two weeks on average to feel normal again, and that you should work on being more mobile every day. Once the incisions have healed, how long does it take for a tummy tuck to fully recover?
Read on to learn more about How Long Drainage After Tummy Tuck, What Is More Painful Bbl Or Tummy Tuck and How Many Inches Of Swelling After Tummy Tuck
How Long Drainage After Tummy Tuck
The drainage tube is placed inside the tummy tuck incision and remains there until the fluid stops draining, usually about 10 days. The tube is removed at the end of that time.
The drainage tube can be uncomfortable and cause some bruising and swelling, but this should go away in a few days.
I agree with Dr. Kim, in that it is unlikely that the drains will be removed until the first postoperative visit. The drainage is to ensure that there is no fluid collection in the abdominal cavity, which would require a return to the operating room for removal of the fluid accumulation.
The drains can be uncomfortable and irritating, but the discomfort should subside within a few days after their removal.
I hope this helps!
I recommend that patients follow their tummy tuck recovery instructions carefully. This will help them avoid complications and get the best possible result from their surgery.
The length of time you will be in post-operative care depends on your individual situation and the extent of your surgery. Tummy tuck surgery involves making several incisions around the lower abdomen, including a vertical cut down through the belly button and an horizontal cut across the belly button to remove excess skin and fat. The average tummy tuck procedure takes about three hours to perform, but it can take longer depending on how much skin and fat are removed.
I typically advise my patients to plan on staying off work for at least one week after surgery. I advise patients not to take pain pills until they feel severe pain (e.g., level 8), because taking pain pills too early may cause nausea or vomiting later when it’s not necessary. After surgery, you’ll need someone else to drive you home from the hospital or clinic, so consider having someone available before surgery day arrives.
If you have several pounds of excess skin that needs to be removed surgically, then expect your recovery period to be longer than if you only needed a small amount of excess skin and fat removed during your tummy tuck procedure
How long is drainage after tummy tuck?
I usually advise my patients to keep their drains in for 3-5 days. The reason for the drain is to remove any excess fluid from the pocket that may cause swelling or a seroma (fluid collection). If you have large pockets and it looks like there is going to be a lot of fluid, I will place a drain in the first 48 hours after surgery and leave it in longer.
If you have small pockets and your surgeon has closed them as they should be, then they can come out when they are no longer full of fluid. If you are having drains placed at the time of your surgery, then you should let your surgeon know when they are not draining anymore so he/she can place new ones if necessary.
The drainage tube will be removed at your second post-operative visit, which is usually within a few days to a week. We usually leave the drain in place for at least 24 hours after the surgery and then remove it. Usually by that time there is no more drainage coming out of the wound and we just take it out for comfort.
You may have some residual swelling around the incision sites for several months after surgery. This is normal and should resolve as your body continues to heal from the procedure.
You should avoid strenuous activity for about 6 weeks after surgery, including exercise or lifting heavy objects, but you can return to work within a week or so if needed. The best way to ensure complete healing is to follow all instructions given by Dr. Mark Scholz at The Plastic Surgery Center of Nashville and his staff before, during and after your tummy tuck procedure
What Is More Painful Bbl Or Tummy Tuck
The tummy tuck is more painful than the BBL procedure. Tummy tucks are done under general anesthesia and can take up to 4 hours. The average recovery time is about 2 weeks, but it varies depending on your body type and healing ability.
The BBL procedure can be done under local anesthesia with sedation or with general anesthesia. Recovery time is typically 1-2 weeks, but again it depends on your body type and healing ability.
The pain is different for everyone. The BBL procedure takes about 4 hours and you will be in the recovery room for about an hour after that.
The tummy tuck takes about 3 hours but the recovery time is longer. It depends on what type of anesthesia you have and how much pain medication they give you. I would recommend taking pain medication as prescribed by your doctor and if it doesn’t work then ask for something stronger.
I have had both surgeries and I can tell you that the BBL was much more painful than my tummy tuck. Both surgeries are painful but one healed faster than the other
The BBL is more painful than the tummy tuck. The tummy tuck is not a very involved surgery and while it can be uncomfortable, it is not as painful as the BBL. The BBL takes longer to recover from and is more involved than the TT. You will also have to wear a compression garment for 6 weeks after your surgery.
The tummy tuck involves removing extra skin from around your waistline and tightening the abdominal muscles that have stretched over time with weight gain. The belly button can be repositioned or re-created if necessary, and excess fat can be removed from the lower abdomen (love handles).
The Brazilian butt lift is designed to increase volume in buttocks by adding fat grafts that are harvested from other areas of your body (the lower back, thighs or tummy) and redistributing them into the buttocks area.
Tummy tuck surgery removes excess fat and skin from around your middle section and tightens weakened or separated muscles underneath the skin
I have had both, and both are painful.
The tummy tuck is more invasive and requires general anesthesia. The BBL takes about 3 hours and you can be home recovering the next day.
Both procedures require time to recover after the surgery. I was out of work for 6 weeks with the BBL but was back in my regular workout routine at 4 weeks with the tummy tuck.
I’ve had a tummy tuck, but I don’t know about the BBL. However, I can tell you that my tummy tuck was not painful at all. I took one Percocet the first day and no pain meds after that. The doctor gave me a prescription for Vicodin, but I didn’t need it.
The only thing that hurt was getting my drains removed (which is kind of expected) and sitting up straight after surgery (which you have to do).
I would say getting your drains removed is worse than the actual surgery.
Have an awesome day!
How Many Inches Of Swelling After Tummy Tuck
It is normal to have swelling for a few weeks after tummy tuck surgery. Swelling is also common after breast augmentation surgery as well.
Swelling may stay for up to 4 months. The amount of swelling varies from patient to patient.
The amount of swelling you will have after your tummy tuck depends on the amount of fat removed and how much skin is used in the procedure.
The more skin removed, the greater the chance of having some residual swelling.
If you are concerned about residual swelling after your tummy tuck, talk with your doctor about your options. It may be possible to use an additional layer of skin or fat grafts to help reduce postoperative swelling and improve overall appearance if needed
The amount of postoperative swelling varies from patient to patient. In the first few days after surgery, the swelling begins to subside and the firmness of your skin gradually increases.
Most people experience swelling that peaks at about 4-5 days after surgery and then begins to subside. Swelling is normal after any surgery as a result of trauma and/or surgical manipulation of tissues.
The amount of swelling you have will vary depending on many factors including:
1) The extent of your surgical procedure (i.e., liposuction vs full tummy tuck)
2) The type of anesthesia used (general vs local)
3) Your age and overall health status
4) The number of hours spent in surgery
5) Your level of activity following surgery
How long does it take for swelling to go down after tummy tuck?
The amount of swelling varies by patient. Some people experience very little swelling while others experience more. In general, the best way to judge the amount of swelling is by looking at your body in the mirror from all angles or standing side by side with a friend or family member who has had a tummy tuck.
It is common for there to be swelling in the lower abdomen and upper thighs for several weeks after surgery.
In most cases, swelling will begin to improve within 2-3 weeks but can continue for up to 6 months or longer depending on how much fluid your body retains and how well you follow your surgeon’s postoperative instructions regarding exercise and activity level.
The swelling after a tummy tuck is variable and will depend on the amount of fat removed, your general health and age, and how well your body heals. In my experience, most patients look great at one month postop but still have some swelling around their waistline. At three months postop, most patients look like they never had surgery.
I would encourage you to wait at least four weeks before deciding if you are happy with your results. After that time frame, if you are still unhappy with your results, you may discuss revisionary surgery with your surgeon.
I think it is important to get a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon before you make your decision. I would suggest that you bring in photos of what you are looking for. In my practice, I have found that patients who come in with good realistic expectations tend to be happier with their results.
The degree of swelling after surgery depends on the size of the incision and how much fat was removed. In my practice, I use drains to minimize swelling and I recommend them for all my patients. The drain is removed after 48 hours. You should expect some degree of swelling for up to 3 weeks after surgery but it will gradually subside over time.
I hope this helps and good luck!