| Tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery is a dramatic | | | | the abdomen after surgery, call your plastic surgeon. |
| operation that offers an unparalleled change in your | | | | This might be the development of a hematoma. |
| waistline shape and contour. It can be so significant | | | | (bleeding) This is of particular concern in the first day |
| that I frequently refer to it as the 'facelift' of the body. | | | | or two after surgery. Small insignificant amounts of |
| Like all dramatic surgical changes, there will be some | | | | bruising may appear later but these are not of any |
| equally dramatic immediate after effects that all | | | | concern. |
| patients should be aware of with the understanding | | | | The skin over the stomach area will feel very numb. |
| that these are normal but temporary inconveniences. | | | | This numbness will persist for many months and the |
| Most importantly, most tummy tucks are significant | | | | feeling may take up to a year to come back, |
| surgery. You should plan an adequate time for | | | | particularly down close to the incision area. This occurs |
| recovery with particular emphasis on how long it will | | | | as the tiny skin nerves that give feeling to the skin are |
| take to return to the type of work you do. Don't short | | | | cut (they can't be seen) as the upper abdominal skin is |
| change yourself. I can make one assumption for most | | | | raised and stretched down to meet the lower incision. |
| patients.....they don't have a good idea (why would | | | | The numbness gradually gets smaller as the feeling |
| they?) as to what a tummy tuck operation is like after. | | | | comes in from the side, closer to the center and down |
| Most of us are not as tough as we think. Plan | | | | near the incision. Some patients may have a small |
| accordingly! | | | | area in the center of the incision just above it which |
| Without question, pain is a common immediate feeling | | | | may always be numb. |
| after a tummy tuck. Whether the pain is significant or | | | | Difficulty standing straight after a tummy tuck is |
| surprisingly moderate is determined by whether your | | | | common...if the muscles have been tightened. In those |
| abdominal fascia (covering of the rectus abdominal | | | | abdominal procedures where muscles are not |
| muscles) has been tightened down the middle. This is | | | | tightened, then standing straight is not a problem. If the |
| what gives tummy tucks their pain afterwards. Not all | | | | muscles have been tightened and you can stand |
| tummy tucks are done with muscle tightening. Some | | | | straight right away...that is a good sign. That will get |
| can be simple skin and fat cutouts (simple | | | | better by the end of the first week after surgery. This |
| abdominoplasty or panniculectomy) which do not have | | | | means they have been tightened enough to make a |
| much discomfort at all. If your plastic surgeon is going | | | | real difference. |
| to tighten the muscles (which you should know and | | | | Almost all tummy tucks require a drain after surgery. |
| discuss beforehand), then ask if there will be some | | | | Some plastic surgeons use one drain, others use two. |
| type of pain relief offered after surgery such as a 24 | | | | Either way, they will need to stay in place for 7 to 10 |
| or 48 hour pain pump. Pain does get better within a | | | | days until their fluid output drops considerably. They |
| few days but the first week can be a rough one for | | | | help immensely in decreasing the risk of a fluid-build-up |
| some patients. | | | | after surgery under the skin. They are necessary evils |
| Tummy tucks do not usually have a much swelling and | | | | of the procedure. |
| rarely any bruising. If you have a lot of bruising across | | | | |