The results of your tummy tuck may not be immediate, but you’ll see changes within a few weeks. You will likely experience swelling and bruising for about two weeks following your procedure. You should also expect some numbness in the area for several months after the surgery.
The degree of swelling and bruising will depend on how much fat was removed from your body during the surgery. Your surgeon can give you an estimate based on their experience with similar surgeries and what they feel is appropriate given your body type. The numbness will gradually resolve over time as nerves heal from being cut during surgery. As they heal, sensation returns to the area and it becomes more sensitive than it was before surgery occurred.
Read on to learn more about How Long Before You See Results From Tummy Tuck
How Long Before You See Results From Tummy Tuck
For many women who have gained and lost weight either through pregnancy-related changes or simply as a result of the natural aging process, their tummies simply don’t look as flat as they once did. They exercise and they diet but that stubborn bulge just doesn’t go away. And, over time, they get more frustrated because nothing they do seems to make a difference. And there is a good reason.
Fluctuations in weight can have dramatic effects on the abdominal wall. Over time, the muscles in the midline can actually separate creating what is called a diastasis. This separation then weakens the overall support that the muscles used to provide with the final result being that you develop that unsightly bulge. And no matter what you do, it just simply doesn’t go away. Think of it this way, if you unsnap your bra, your breasts will fall out. The same thing happens with the “internal corset” of your abdomen. When the muscles separate, it is similar to unzipping of a corset and the internal contents distend forward.
In order to address this, the separation can be fixed through a tummy tuck. This relatively straightforward surgery tightens muscles and removes any excess skin creating a flatter, more shapely abdominal wall. And when liposuction is added to specific areas, an even more dramatic and circumferential improvement can be obtained. Many patients ask why liposuction is necessary. The short answer is that liposuction picks up where a tummy tuck leaves off. A tummy tuck alone does little to nothing to address abdominal or back fat. By adding a little liposuction here and there, your torso can be shaped in a much more optimal manner than with just a tummy tuck by itself.
And while some of the tummy tuck result is immediate, it may take up to six months or more to see the final results of the liposuction. During that time, the swelling gradually resolves and some degree of skin tightening may occur leading to an even more dramatic result by year’s end. Many Plastic Surgeons are even adding non-invasive treatments such as VASER Shape to create an even more impressive result. VASER Shape can potentially help smooth your contour further and may lead to even greater skin tightening over time.
So if you have been hitting the gym but feel like your tummy has hit a wall, liposuction and a tummy tuck may be just the prescription for the best belly! You might also want to combine procedures to have a full Denver mommy makeover. But make sure to research your Plastic Surgeon. Make sure that he or she is Board Certified in Plastic Surgery and that body contouring surgery and liposuction are a substantial part of their Cosmetic Surgery practice. Experience and training are essential and can make the difference between an average result and the home run tummy that you are looking for!
How to Lower Your Chances for DVT After Surgery
While you’re recovering at the hospital, it’s important to keep your blood moving to lower your chances for blood clots. The DVT prevention plan your doctor makes for you might include:
Blood thinner medicines. These are also called anticoagulants. They make it harder for your blood cells to stick together and form clots. You take them by mouth, shot, or through an IV.
Doctors don’t prescribe blood thinners after all surgeries, because they can cause excessive bleeding. Your doctor will decide if they’re right for you. You can ask them to explain the benefits and risks.
Simple movements. These can improve blood flow. Depending on the type of surgery you had, your care team might suggest gentle exercises like:
- Leg lifts while you’re in bed
- Moving your feet in a circle or up and down about 10 times an hour while you’re sitting in a chair or lying in bed
- Squeezing your calf and thigh muscles regularly
If you got your hip or knee replaced, your doctor might have you start working with a physical therapist the day after surgery.
You might need to take pain medicine so you can exercise comfortably.
If you can’t exercise after major surgery, ask your doctor if someone on your care team should massage your lower legs and move your legs through range-of-motion exercises.
Getting mobile. A nurse will help you get out of bed to move around as soon as possible after surgery. It’s good for your blood flow.
Elastic compression stockings. Your doctor may recommend these to help keep your blood flowing and to stop it from pooling in your veins, which could cause clots to form. Compression stockings fit snugly and may feel uncomfortable at first, but you may get used to them after you wear them a few times.
Compression device. This type of gadget applies pressure to your legs to get blood moving and prevent clots. They have names like “sequential compression device” or “intermittent pneumatic compression” device.
Your care team wraps plastic sleeves around your legs, and a connected pump inflates and deflates them. Take the sleeves off before you walk somewhere (like to the bathroom) so you don’t trip and fall. Your care team can help you remove them if you need a hand.
How to Help Prevent DVT Once You’re Home
Follow these tips after you leave the hospital and start recovering at home:
If your doctor gave you blood-thinning medication (anticoagulants), keep taking it exactly as prescribed. Ask the doctor or a pharmacist if you should avoid certain foods or drinks while you’re on the medicine. Also ask what to do if you accidentally skip a dose.
If your doctor wants you to use compression stockings, make sure they tell you often and how long to wear them. Check your legs and feet for redness or sores each time you take the stockings off. Call the doctor right away if you notice changes in your skin.
If the doctor wants you to use a compression device at home, follow their instructions on how to do so exactly. They’ll tell you how long and how often to use it. Remember to take the device’s sleeves off before you walk around.
Follow your doctor’s instructions on getting active again. Your doctor may keep certain activities off-limits at first. But in general, move as much as you can to keep your blood flowing.
If your care team had you doing gentle movement exercises in bed or in a chair at the hospital, keep doing these at home. You could also ask a loved one to help you move your arms and legs while you’re in bed or if you need to use a wheelchair.