| Follow the advice of your surgeon and his staff and | | | | The removal process is quite a simple process and is |
| your tummy tuck recovery pain and trouble free. The | | | | normally pain free with patient feeling a slight tingling |
| day after your tummy tuck surgery you will begin to | | | | sensation when the tubes are removed. |
| feel you have more energy as the effects of the | | | | The drains are small clear tubes that are normally |
| anesthesia begin to wear off. At this point you must | | | | inserted either side of the stomach area and are |
| remember that you have to take things easy, you | | | | connected to small bulb shaped drainage reservoirs. |
| have just had major surgery. You may feel some pain | | | | Your surgeon or his staff will show you how to empty |
| the scale of this pain varies from patient to patient if | | | | the drains and measure the output from each drain. |
| the pain is uncomfortable don't suffer in silence ask for | | | | This should be done 2-3 times daily although the drains |
| some pain relief medication to ease the discomfort. | | | | may feel a bit uncomfortable they are actually quite |
| After 24 hours it is fine to shower and you will | | | | important. There job is to drain any excess fluid that |
| probably be encouraged to do so. You should remove | | | | builds behind abdominal incisions you had during |
| your dressing and replace it with a clean dressing. One | | | | surgery. |
| important note though you will probably have | | | | Your doctor or surgeon will place weight restrictions on |
| steri-strips covering your wound / stitches it's important | | | | you for the first couple of weeks after your surgery |
| that you don't interfere with these. Over the next | | | | and may limit you to lifting no more than 3lbs in weight. |
| week or so these steri - strips will start to peel of their | | | | Again it is very important to follow these instructions it |
| own accord. If needs be you can trim the peeled | | | | is not worth risking bursting your sutures just to lift |
| edges with a small pair of scissors but you should not | | | | something yourself. |
| pull them if they are still attached. | | | | On a final note it is very important that when you |
| If you had the type of surgery that required drains to | | | | bathe you make sure that everything is clean and |
| be fitted you should hang the drains securely while you | | | | sterile don't use any old towels or sponges buy new |
| are taking a shower. These drains are usually kept in | | | | ones that you know are clean. This way you will |
| place for around 7-21 days and should only be | | | | minimize any risks of getting an infection. Following |
| removed under medical supervision. They may be | | | | these simple steps and your surgeon's advice will go a |
| removed by surgeon together or he may decide to | | | | long way to ensuring your tummy tuck recovery is as |
| leave one in a bit longer than the other. This will | | | | quick and pain free as possible. |
| depend on the amount of fluid that is being passed. | | | | |