What You Do after a Tummy Tuck Impacts Your Results

Many factors come together to influence your final tummy tuck results — from genetics to the cosmetic surgeon you choose to your lifestyle habits while you recover. Fortunately, there are quite a few aspects of your tummy tuck journey that you can shape on your own, including your tummy tuck recovery timeline.

By following your cosmetic surgeon’s recovery guidelines closely, maintaining healthy lifestyle habits and keeping these tummy tuck post-op tips in mind, you can greatly impact your recovery period and final results.

1. Follow Your Cosmetic Surgeon’s Wound Care Instructions

Your cosmetic surgeon should provide you with detailed wound care instructions outlining how to tend to your incisions, what signs of infection to look for and what to do and avoid as your incisions heal. Follow these guidelines as closely as you can to help optimize your body’s healing process.

For example, unless otherwise instructed by your cosmetic surgeon, avoid applying any topical products to your incisions until they have completely healed and closed. You will also need to avoid submerging your incisions in water until they are fully healed, which means no baths, hot tubs or pools until you get the okay from your cosmetic surgeon.

When you are showering, make sure all of your products are placed within reach so that you don’t have to bend over or strain yourself to reach them.

2. Wear Your Compression Garment

Wearing a compression garment after getting a tummy tuck will help to reduce swelling. Your cosmetic surgeon should send you home with specific instructions on how, when and how often to wear this.

In some cases, a cosmetic surgeon may supply you with a specific compression garment that he or she recommends you use. If not, your cosmetic surgeon should provide guidelines on what types of garments are acceptable. In general, you don’t want the compression garment to be so tight that you can’t breathe properly, but you want it to fit snugly enough that it helps to reduce swelling and make you feel more comfortable as you recover.

3. Rest in a Recliner

You might find it’s easier to find a comfortable sleeping position in a reclining chair vs. your bed for the first few nights after abdominoplasty. This reclined position can also help you to find a comfortable spot while watching TV or reading a book during recovery. You can also use pillows under your knees to help keep your legs propped up.

Note that you might not be able to stand straight up immediately after your tummy tuck and might need to walk slightly hunched forward. This is normal and should gradually improve over the coming days and weeks as your body heals.

4. Use a Stool Softener to Counteract Prescription Pain Medications

Prescription pain medications usually cause some constipation, so ask your cosmetic surgeon about using a stool softener to help make you feel more comfortable while taking medication.

For some people, pain and discomfort after a tummy tuck can be managed with the use of over-the-counter medication, although everyone’s recovery experience will vary.

5. Get Light Exercise

Although you will need to avoid strenuous exercise for several weeks after getting a tummy tuck, walking around the house or block will increase circulation and help your body heal. Start lightly at first, and don’t push your body to over-exert itself. Always check in with your cosmetic surgeon before attempting to increase the intensity or duration of exercise as you recover from your tummy tuck.

Additionally, don’t be alarmed if you don’t feel like you have much energy during the initial tummy tuck recovery phase. This is to be expected as your body puts its energy into healing. So it’s okay if you’re only up for a short walk around your house or yard.

6. Stay Hydrated

Be sure to drink plenty of water throughout your abdominoplasty recovery process to ensure your body is hydrated and able to optimize its healing process. Sugary sports drinks, soft drinks and fruit juices with high amounts of added sugar are not the best options during this time, as sugar can increase inflammation.

You’ll also want to avoid alcohol while on pain medication and to help your body heal and avoid dehydration.

7. Be Patient with Yourself

A tummy tuck is a surgical procedure, so know that it is going to take time to recover, to see results and to start feeling like yourself again. But rest assured that you will get there, and the vast majority of people who get abdominoplasty say that the procedure was well worth it.

You might even find that you feel a little sad, depressed or regretful at first. However, you are going through a lot of emotions as your body heals, so be patient with yourself as you continue on your tummy tuck journey.