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Taking Care of Yourself after a Tummy Tuck

While every patient and procedure is different, there are few basic things we tell our Newport Beach clients to expect immediately after their tummy tuck surgery. Feeling tired and even a little dizzy as the anesthesia wears off is very common.  Our Newport Beach clients report that these feelings often pass within a few hours.

Sometimes these symptoms are simply a side effect of the post-operative pain medication. So if they persist past the first 48 hours after surgery they may be from the oral pain medication. Either way, let us or the surgeon who did the surgery know so that if anything needs to be addressed, it is done so as soon as possible.

We recommend that our Newport Beach clients have someone drive them home when they are released. Most tummy tucks are done on an outpatient basis, meaning you get to go home the same day of the procedure. However, there are cases that may require an overnight stay under physician supervision to ensure proper healing.

Immediately following a tummy tuck you can expect the treated area to feel very sore. Most pain can be controlled with rest and pain medications. One of the most important healing requirements is simple rest. Your body has been through a lot and will need a break!

You’ll have an incision site after a tummy tuck that needs to be covered and kept clean and dry.  You’ll likely get specific instructions on how to care for your individual incision site so be sure to follow those instructions.  Often a wide elastic compression garment is given to wear around your abdomen to reduce swelling and provide support to the skin as it tightens. We recommend our Newport Beach clients to wear this garment for several weeks. If you have drain tubes in your incisions, you will be given instructions as to how to properly care for the drains.

Redness, bruising, and swelling are common side effects from tummy tucks. We keep a close eye on our Newport Beach tummy tuckclients to make sure these effects improve at each follow up appointment. They usually subside in one to three weeks as the body adjusts to the changes and the incisions heal.

For more information, schedule a consultation with Newport Beach tummy tuck specialist Dr. Ali Sajjadian today!