Abdominoplasty, also known as a tummy tuck, is no lunch time procedure.
It is a serious surgery in which an incision is made from hip to hip, fat and excess tissue is removed and the skin is cut, stretched, and sewn back in place.
The belly button is also repositioned as part of this process.
This is a significant surgical procedure and the recovery time reflects that, being at times longer than six weeks.
Due to the anesthesia, it is possible that you will not remember the first day following the procedure.
Some patients leave the same day as the abdominoplasty procedure and others stay in spend a few days in the hospital recovering under supervision.
Whenever you leave, it is important that you have someone to drive you home and set you up.
Your abdomen will be swollen and bruised and you will have difficulty doing simple tasks like sitting up, walking, or even turning over.
You will learn very quickly how often you use your abdominal muscles, as you are likely to feel pain doing the simplest everyday tasks.
You will need help, so make arrangements ahead of time.
When you are discharged from the hospital you will be given a list of post-abdominoplasty instructions and other tips on how to heal quickly.
There should be instructions on how to care for your incision, when to take medication, what to wear, when to bathe, and things to watch out for like an elevated temperature or bleeding from the incision.
You are likely to wake up from your procedure wearing a support garment around your abdomen.
These garments are usually a wide binder that either zips or is fastened by Velcro around your abdomen.
It helps to control the swelling, support your newly shaped abdomen, and it aids healing.
It is very important that you wear it as long as your doctor advises.
You will even have to wear it in the shower.
Most surgeons suggest that you do not bathe for at least two to three days following an abdominoplasty, but there are others that do not recommend it for at least a week.
You will be instructed to shower only, as sitting in standing water of a bath tub or hot tub could lead to infection.
Also, it would be wise to have someone help you the first time you try to shower to prevent any accidents and to help you do the simple things that have suddenly become difficult like wash your hair.
Drainage is also an important part of your recovery.
A tube coming from your abdomen will be connected to a bulb into which fluids of different colors and possibly even chunks will drain.
The drained fluid is not a pretty picture and emptying the bulb is also not a favored task but it is an important part of your healing process.
You will also most likely be asked to record how often and how much you are draining.
If at any time you see bright red blood draining into the bulb, call your plastic surgeon immediately.
Recovery from abdominoplasty will be painful.
But your plastic surgeon will have prescribed you sufficient pain medication.
Take the pain medication on time, before the pain gets too much too handle.
Don't try to be tough, your surgeon prescribed you the medication for a reason.
Also, take any other medications exactly as instructed.
For example, if you have been prescribed an antibiotic for ten days but you are feeling so much better after six, continue to take it for ten days to avoid creating drug resistant bacteria in your body.
Lastly, take it easy.
Abdominoplasty is a serious procedure and it takes time for your incisions and your abdomen to heal.
The recovery time may be painful and uncomfortable at times, but remember why you elected to have the surgery.
You are going to look great!