Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty) Recovery
Depending on what type of tummy tuck surgery you have you may be required to stay in hospital for one or two days. With a mini tummy tuck you are often able to go home after a few hours. You will need to arrange for someone to take you home as you will be in some pain and discomfort and will be drowsy from the anaesthetic.
How long you take to recover will also depend on the type of surgery you have but there will be a significant recovery period with all forms of surgery. Most people are able to return to work after two weeks but for some it can take three to four weeks before they are able to resume normal activities.
Your drain will usually be removed after about a week with the stitches removed in stages over the following two weeks.
Immediately after surgery you will feel some pain and discomfort but this can be managed with painkillers. You will also be quite swollen around the abdomen area. The swelling may take a few months to fully subside. Bruising should disappear after a few days. Walking can be difficult at first but you should be up and around after a few days.
You will need to take it easy for a few weeks after surgery and should not do any strenuous activities such as exercise and heavy lifting until you are fully recovered.
Your scarring may look quite bad immediately after surgery but it will fade over time. Be prepared for this to take up to a year however.
In order to ensure that your recovery goes as smoothly as possible you need to make sure you follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions very carefully and con tact them immediately if you notice any signs of infection or if you experience bleeding or a sudden increase in pain.
