Tummy Tuck Recovery and You
If you are considering having a tummy tuck, I am sure you are wondering what to expect during your recovery time. You should understand that a tummy tuck is a major surgical procedure, therefore recovery may take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, depending on your general health and how well you follow post-operative instructions.
As with any major surgery, there are things to be aware of and things that can happen during recovery. Side effects of this procedure include infection, scarring, and slow recovery time.
If you have a lot of weight to lose, having a tummy tuck is not a magic bullet to help you lose it, and any reputable surgeon would refuse to consider anyone who is obese for this type of surgery. The risks of surgery and anesthesia, for example, would be too much for the patient and surgeon to consider. Any obese person undergoing this procedure would find the tummy tuck recovery period prolonged due to the significant complications resulting from the surgery. Other post-op issues to think about are blood clots, chest infections, poorly healing skin, and prolonged healing time in general.
The sooner you can get out of bed and move around after undergoing any type of surgery, the faster you will heal, as long as you keep your movements within the limits set by your surgeon. In fact, movement promotes healing.
A tummy tuck or tummy tuck will tighten the muscles and walls of your abdomen. Due to the nature of this procedure, it is not for everyone. For example, if you are having a tummy tuck to try to lose weight, you will be disappointed. You must lose weight before doing this procedure. People who have lost a lot of weight often have a tummy tuck procedure to get rid of excess skin that hangs from the stomach due to weight loss. No reputable surgeon will perform a tummy tuck on a patient who is doing it solely for weight loss.
If you are a woman who has recently been pregnant, you should wait some time before surgery. Or if you plan to become pregnant, you should wait until you are finished having children before having a tummy tuck. This is because pregnancy will put pressure on the scar left by a tummy tuck.
If you have had any type of abdominal surgery before, you should not consider having a tummy tuck procedure because your recovery from the tummy tuck would be compromised.