With the healing process of tummy tuck, you will feel better and better. You will also experience some changes to your body which you can expect. You need to be prepared that your belly button will look different than before surgery. It may be smaller or larger depending on how much tissue was removed during surgery, but it should return to normal over time.
As far as the scarring from tummy tuck surgery, there is no way to predict how well it will heal for each patient. The scar will soften and fade over time, but it may never disappear entirely. The amount of excess skin removal during tummy tuck surgery also affects how quickly the scar will fade and improve in appearance over time. In general, most patients are able to return back to work within two weeks after tummy tuck surgery, but this varies from patient-to-patient based on their individual recovery time needs as well as their job responsibilities at home or work.read more article on Worst Days After Tummy Tuck and Recovery From Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair.
Healing Process Of Tummy Tuck
There is no doubt that the recovery process after a tummy tuck can be difficult. The procedure, which involves altering the appearance of your abdominal muscles, as well as your skin and fat layers, will leave you feeling sore and tired for weeks after surgery. However, there are steps that you can take to make this process easier on yourself.
Here’s what you need to know about recovering from a tummy tuck with muscle repair:
The recovery time for a tummy tuck depends on the extent of the procedure. If only some of your muscles are repaired (and not all), then it will take less time to recover than if they were all repaired. In general, however, all patients should expect at least one week of recovery time, and possibly up to eight weeks depending on how many muscles were repaired during the surgery.
The recovery from tummy tuck with muscle repair is similar to other types of tummy tucks. The main difference is that the muscle repair adds a higher level of discomfort and muscle soreness.
Recovery time
The first week after surgery, you will need to wear a compression garment (binder) to support the incision site. The swelling and bruising in your lower abdomen will be uncomfortable, but it should begin to go away after about three weeks. You may be able to return to work within two weeks, depending on your job requirements. You should avoid heavy lifting, strenuous exercise and sexual activity until at least six weeks after surgery.
Potential complications
Like any surgical procedure, complications can occur after tummy tuck surgery — including bleeding and infection. Bleeding can be treated with medication and more surgery if necessary. Infections require antibiotics for treatment and may require additional surgery if treatment does not resolve the issue completely.
Worst Days After Tummy Tuck
Worst Days After Tummy Tuck
The worst days after tummy tuck are the first week. You will have a drain in your tummy that you can remove at home. The drainage will be minimal and clear, but you will have to keep an eye on it so that it does not get clogged.
You may also have some pain in the lower area of your tummy as well as your back due to the muscle repair. It is normal for this area to feel sore and achy for several weeks after surgery. However, if you are experiencing sharp pains or swelling, please call our office immediately!
What Happens During Recovery?
The recovery from tummy tuck with muscle repair is often a bit more challenging than with tummy tuck alone. The recovery time for the muscle repair is somewhere between 6 and 8 weeks.
The first week is pretty much the same as any other cosmetic surgery procedure. You will have pain, swelling, bruising and possibly some numbness. You can expect to wear your compression garment for about 4 weeks after surgery. During this time you will be taking pain medication for at least the first few days after surgery. After that you will likely be taking over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Ibuprofen to help manage pain and inflammation while you heal. You may also use ice packs on your stomach area several times a day to help reduce swelling and discomfort while you heal.
Around two weeks after surgery you will be able to begin physical therapy exercises designed specifically for tummy tucks. These exercises are designed to strengthen your abdominal muscles following surgery so they can help support your stomach area in lieu of having an abdominal muscle flap placed during surgery. Your doctor or surgeon will show you these exercises at this appointment so it’s important that you follow their instructions precisely .
The first week post-surgery is the most difficult. You will be in pain and experience swelling. The pain can be managed with medication, but it might be difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep in.
The second week will be better than the first, but you need to continue taking your pain medication on schedule, as prescribed by your doctor. The third week will be similar to the second week.
You should begin light stretching exercises around this time, starting at 30 minutes per day and working up to more frequent sessions over the next few weeks.
You should also increase your activity level slowly over the following months, gradually returning to work when your doctor gives you the green light (usually six weeks after surgery).
By three months after surgery, most patients have returned to normal activity levels and are seeing great results from their tummy tuck procedure.
Recovery From Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair
Recovery From Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair
After surgery, you will be taken to a recovery room where you will be monitored closely. You will be given pain medications as needed and allowed to rest. Most patients are able to go home after a short stay in the hospital.
Your incisions will need to be dressed with bandages or surgical mesh. Your doctor may use staples or sutures to close your incisions. The stitches used in tummy tucks are dissolvable, so they will eventually fall out on their own without requiring removal. You should not be able to feel them under the skin when they have dissolved completely.
You may experience some swelling and bruising for several weeks after surgery, but most of these side effects will slowly subside over time. You will likely need to wear a surgical garment for at least two weeks after your procedure, which helps keep your muscles from pulling apart as they heal and allows extra support around your abdomen during recovery.
Recovery From Tummy Tuck With Muscle Repair
The recovery from tummy tuck with muscle repair is the same as that for a tummy tuck without muscle repair. Your doctor will explain how long it will take for you to heal and how to take care of your incision.
You may experience some swelling or bruising, which can be minimized by wearing support garments after surgery. Some patients also develop drainage from their incisions. This is normal and does not mean that you have an infection or other problem.
Most patients return to work within two weeks after surgery, but full activity can be resumed within three to four weeks. It takes six months to a year for the muscles in the abdomen to fully recover from the operation, so some people may not feel like exercising until this time period has passed.