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If you’ve decided to improve your aesthetic with a tummy tuck, you’re in the right place! At the Vinyard Institute of Plastic Surgery, we offer tummy tuck surgeries, also known as abdominoplasties. While not a weight loss procedure, the tummy tuck is the perfect treatment for flattening your abdomen and contouring and cinching your waistline.
Investing your time and money in a tummy tuck surgery is a big decision with significant results that you can hope to keep for years to come. So, of course, you will want to attain the best possible results with such a big investment. But how do you simultaneously enjoy a seamless recovery and come out of it with a marvelous figure?
The first step is choosing a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon like Dr. William J. Vinyard, MD, FACS, whose expertise in tummy tucks is renowned. Also, here are a few tips you can implement at home while you recover, not just to make the process smoother but also to ensure that you keep your tummy tuck results for years to come!
Typically, most patients will recover within 2-5 weeks. However, the tummy tuck recovery process differs for every patient Dr. Vinyard operates on, so there isn’t a blanketed recovery timeline for all our tummy tuck patients.
Almost all patients completely recover, with a majority of major swelling subsiding at the 6-week mark. However, the tummy tuck recovery period varies for each patient. Factors such as age, health, weight, and what kind of tummy tuck you receive will influence how long your recovery period is.
There are three types of tummy tucks:
A mini tummy tuck involves correcting excess fat and loose skin in the lower abdomen, typically below the belly button. Patients who receive this tummy tuck will likely have the shortest recovery time since this is the least invasive procedure of the three. This type of tummy tuck does not involve muscle repair of the abdominal muscles.
The full tummy tuck works on both your lower and upper abdominal area. Additionally, a full tummy tuck includes muscle plication or muscle repair of the abdominal muscles, which can become stretched and lax following weight gain, weight loss, pregnancy, or other factors. This procedure will have a longer recovery time than the mini tummy tuck as it is a more extensive surgery.
Finally, the extended tummy tuck works not only on your abdomen but also on your sides. It eliminates excess skin and fat all around the front of your midsection, which is why it has the longest recovery time.
Your tummy tuck recovery depends on what kind of tummy tuck you get. More extensive tummy tucks will come with longer recovery timelines. Regardless of which type of tummy tuck you get, these simple steps for your recovery period will make the process much smoother.
Each week will come with different instructions as you walk through your recovery journey. In general, the first four weeks will involve the following:
Dr. Vinyard will perform your tummy tuck as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. You may need to stay in the recovery room for a few hours following a tummy tuck procedure. Following the tummy tuck surgery, you will need someone to drive you home and take care of you for a few days.
Once you are at home, follow Dr. Vinyard’s instructions meticulously. He will prescribe you pain medications, an antibiotic, and possibly a scar treatment. While you may not need all these immediately after surgery, you should ensure they are on hand according to Dr. Vinyard’s instructions.
Week 1 of recovery will be all about rest and relaxation. This usually means bed rest for the first two days while intermittently getting up and moving around for a few minutes to minimize the risk of blood clots. In most cases, you can shower after the first week, but you may be more comfortable sitting on a chair.
Every day you should ensure that you are staying hydrated and maintaining a low-sodium diet to help reduce swelling. You should also wear compression garments around your midsection to support your abdomen. You will need to empty the drainage tubes until they are removed, usually around week 3.
You must change your surgical dressing according to Dr. Vinyard’s instructions and gently clean the incision site. Do not wash the area with hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, as they kill new skin cells and slow the healing process.
You may experience side effects like bruising, swelling, and discomfort. Dr. Vinyard injects the surgical site with a nerve block medication called Exparel prior to all of his tummy tuck surgeries; this medication will significantly reduce pain and make the first few days after surgery much more comfortable. The postprocedural pain will fade after the first few days, although the pulling sensation in your abdomen may remain throughout the first few weeks after surgery and is completely normal. Taking pain medication will help control any discomfort.
To help with discomfort, you may find it more comfortable to rest at an angle, place a pillow under your knees, or hold a pillow over the incision if you cough. You can drink ginger tea to alleviate nausea or eat fruit such as pineapple and papaya to combat bloating and inflammation. Overall, you will experience limited mobility during these first few days.
Most patients find that sticking closely to the following tummy tuck week 1 tips is helpful:
By week 2, you should notice some improvement in how you feel, although it is still recommended to take it slow. Your treatment area will still be swollen, but your pain should have improved. After week 2, almost all patients return to work and their normal activities, including a normal diet, although you may want to continue limiting sodium.
It is important to avoid strenuous exercise, smoking, and drinking alcohol at this point in the healing process. Instead, drink a sufficient amount of water.
Several normal activities that patients can get back to during this week include cooking, driving, and shopping. After 10-14 days, you can also return to work unless your job involves vigorous exercise.
For week 2 after your surgical procedure, it is essential that you drink a sufficient amount of water, wear your compression garment as directed, and start taking brief walks. These steps promote healing, and light exercise will let your blood flow for better circulation and healing.
At weeks 3 and 4, you will finally start to feel more like yourself again as your energy returns, you are able to be more physically active, and your drain tubes will be removed (every patient’s favorite part!) Although your full results will not be visible until 12 weeks after the tummy tuck cosmetic surgery, you will experience much less discomfort. For most patients, most side effects are virtually gone at this point. However, Dr. Vinyard will not fully release you to hit the gym again until around week 6. You will want to ease your way back into physical activity. If you feel tired, get some rest.
This is the perfect time for you to begin a well-balanced diet that will help you maintain your tummy tuck results for years to come. You should also continue wearing the compression garment as directed. Usually, Dr. Vinyard allows patients to lay aside the compression garment approximately six weeks after surgery, as it helps tremendously with swelling and discomfort.
During weeks three and four, your life will begin to return to normal. Dr. Vinyard recommends these tips as you ease back into your everyday life:
Diet and exercise are the best steps to keeping your tummy tuck results in tip-top shape. So make sure to eat a healthy diet and establish a regular exercise routine.
The other factor in your tummy tuck maintenance will be making sure that you time your surgery for the right season of life. If you plan on losing a significant amount of weight or having more children, it is best to wait until you are within 10-15 pounds of your ideal weight and are done having kids. This step will ensure that nothing stretches your skin and abdominal muscles, affecting your long-term results.
If you are considering the tummy tuck as an option for your aesthetic goals, look no further than Dr. Vinyard and his team of experts. With his renowned techniques for delivering stunning tummy tucks, Dr. Vinyard is happy to consult with you about your tummy tuck procedure and recovery!
Book A Complimentary ConsultationAs you consider your body contouring goals, Dr. Vinyard and his team of experts wield many options for improving the aesthetic of your abdomen. A tummy tuck can be an incredible addition to your treatment plan, and Dr. Vinyard and his team of experts are ready to support you in achieving your aesthetic goals. Contact us to schedule a personal consultation with us, or call (772) 212-0304 to find out the next steps in your body contouring journey! Our office at 291 NW Peacock Blvd, Suite 103, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986, proudly serves the South Florida area! We also invite you to check out our blog page, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more about the treatment options available at our office!
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