Abdominoplasty, better known as a tummy tuck, is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the extra fat on your abdomen. The procedure is mostly preferred by people who have lost a lot of weight rapidly and want to get rid of the sagging skin that has lost its elasticity. In this procedure, abdomen contouring techniques are used to sculpt your abdomen in the perfect shape. Choosing a highly experienced tummy tuck surgeon in the township of Washington, NJ, is crucial to achieving the desired results. The recovery after a tummy tuck in NJ may vary depending on the extensiveness of the abdominoplasty.
Following are a few post-surgery tips for healthy recovery after a tummy tuck procedure:
Wearing Surgical Dressing/Compressions
After the surgery is done, the surgeon would wrap your abdomen in surgical dressing so, wait at least 3 days before taking a shower. You may have to wear the surgical dressing for a few days, and even after the dressing has been removed, you may have to regularly wear the compression belt to help with healing and retain the beautiful shape of your belly. It is recommended to wear the compressions until your surgeon advises otherwise.
Limit Mobility
After the abdominoplasty, surgeons usually require patients to limit their mobility. For the first two days, you should stick to bed rest. It is best to only lay on your back for the first few days. It is recommended to avoid any strenuous activities such as bending, driving, lifting, or standing for long during the recovery period. It is best to make arrangements with someone to drive you home and help with your house chores for the first two weeks.
Taking Care of Your Incisions
During the recovery period, your doctor would add some drainage tubes with your dressing around the incisions to drain any built-up fluid. Make sure to follow the surgeon’s instructions on taking care of the tubes and incisions. It is recommended to avoid consuming alcohol or smoking for a minimum of three months post-surgery during your recovery period.
Managing Pain
After the tummy tuck in NJ, your abdomen would experience some swelling and intense soreness. The swelling and soreness may take from 10 days to over 3 months to go down completely. You should take the muscle relaxants and pain meds to manage the pain as prescribed by your surgeon.
The full recovery may take longer depending on how extensive the tummy tuck procedure was, and the incision scars may take even longer to fade. Make sure to drink plenty of water and take a healthy diet to maintain the abdominoplasty results. If you want to know more about abdominoplasty and its possible risks, schedule a consultation with an Abdominoplasty Surgeon in New Jersey.