Even with the rising number of body-shaping procedures like cool sculpting, customary surgical procedures such as tummy tuck are still quite popular. A tummy tuck is a surgical process of removing excess fat and sagging skin from the belly. The goal is tightening the tummy muscles and getting rid of excess weight. The correct medical term for this surgery is an abdominoplasty. If you are looking for ways to make your tummy appear tight and trim without radical dieting, this is an ideal procedure to consider. But what should you expect from a tummy tuck procedure? Here are some of the issues you might experience after the surgery.
Soreness and Swelling
For the first few weeks after a tummy tuck surgery, your stomach will be swollen and painful. The numbness on your tummy will also continue for a few weeks and, in some cases, months. Don’t panic if a month or two pass, and you still can’t feel anything on your stomach. Lack of feeling is not unusual. Sensation returns slowly, although some parts of your tummy, especially the lower part, might remain numb for a long time. Heating pads are not very safe to use when your tummy is numb from the surgery because you could suffer severe burns.
Tiredness
For at least six weeks after a tummy tuck surgery, you will feel weak and tired. Sometimes it might be hard for you to stand up straight. But regardless of how weak your body feels, you have to stand and walk around the house several times a day to recover your natural posture and movement. Doctors recommend that you move your legs regularly between walks. However, avoid heavy lifting and other intensive exercises during recovery. You also need to have enough bed rest to boost healing.
Scarring
A tummy tuck procedure leaves you with a long scar on your stomach, especially around the belly button. This scar heals slowly and may take a few months to fade, depending on how successful the recovery process is. To avoid a undo scarring, take proper care of the incision by following your doctor’s advice on treating the wound and removing strips of surgical tape placed on it.
Finally, you need to understand that the recovery process’s length depends on the type of tummy tuck procedure you have. Mostly, the more extensive the operation is, the longer it takes you to recover. It takes even longer if the surgery involves the lower back, flanks, and the lower chest.
