What to Expect?
You should avoid blood thinners like aspirin, ibuprofen, and Tylenol for two weeks before and two weeks after your tummy tuck procedure. Patients over the age of 50 will require an EKG.
During your surgery, excess fat and skin are removed from above the belly button down to the pubic area. The incision typically extends from one hipbone to the other, but it is placed low. Liposuction is performed through the entire abdomen, hips, and pubic area to suction out the excess fatty tissue.
The muscles are repositioned to achieve a flat, tight abdomen with dramatic improvement to the waistline and posture. This process also allows any abdominal muscles that have stretched apart to be brought back together. Stretch marks can sometimes be removed or reduced as well during this procedure, and we can diminish them further through our ICON Laser, which is the only FDA-approved laser procedure for stretch mark removal.
Abdominoplasty is an outpatient surgery performed at our state-of-the-art facility, or for more invasive procedures, you can stay in our fully accredited overnight facilities under the care of our professional nursing staff – all of whom are certified in advanced cardiac life support. This is not a requirement for a facility’s accreditation and certification, but it ensures the highest level of supervision, evaluation, and care should there ever be an emergency. It means you can relax in the knowledge that you are in good hands.
Note for those with only abdominal fat and no excess skin, abdominal liposuction alone may be sufficient. During your consultation with our doctors, we will advise as to which procedure will bring you the results you’re after.
Recovery Time
Recovery time from an abdominoplasty varies from patient to patient. While some feel well enough to return to work within a week, others require three or more weeks. With your case and the extent of your surgery, we can give you an estimate of your recovery time. Expect to be swollen and sore for at least a few days, but your surgeon will prescribe pain medication to make you comfortable during recovery.
Standing up straight will be a problem at first, but you should start walking as soon as possible to avoid blood clotting. Progressive Tension Suturing patients experience a better quality of life during recovery compared to patients with drains. A clinical study proved that patients who used Progressive Tension Suturing returned to a normal work schedule approximately three days sooner than those with drains. Although you might feel eager to resume heavy activity following your tummy tuck with Progressive Tension Suturing, please remember you just had a major surgery, and your body will need time to heal. Be sure to carefully follow your surgeon’s recovery instructions.
We will monitor your progress after your surgery, and give you detailed post-operative instructions to make your recovery as easy as possible. The results are long-lasting. It is possible to develop new fat, of course, but you can help maintain your slimmer contour with the preventative measures of healthy eating and regular exercise.
