Recovery from Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty, Body Lift, or Thigh Lift Surgery

By Dr. Sean Younai

Tummy Tuck or Abdominoplasty, body lift, or thigh lift usually take from three to five hours depending on the size of the patient, and the extent of the surgery.

- Following surgery, patients are monitored in the Recovery Room for several hours until they are stable enough to go home, or to an aftercare facility.

- In the Recovery Room, patients receive pain medications, antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and anit-nausea medications. Although pain medications help make your pain tolerable, they do not eliminate pain altogether. During this time, you are also kept warm with special warming blankets and your calves are being massaged by special stockings. Because mobility of your extremities is very important to keep your circulation going to avoid formation of blood clots, your nurse might assist you in taking a few steps.

- Within the first three hours after your surgery, it is not wise to drink much liquids because of the risk of vomiting. It is best to to wet your mouth.

- After surgery it is normal to feel tight around the tummy, thighs, and buttocks. You would be wearing an abdominal or body girdle. There might be some drainage or soiling of your girdle from your wounds, which is normal. Do not change, remove, or mainpulate your girdle until instructed to do so by your surgeon. Make sure that the girdle is not too tight and that its waist is kept riding high at the level of your breast fold.

- Patients have several drains that attach to a bulb-like collection container. The nurse will show you and/or your family how to record their output, and to empty them periodically. Make sure that there is no tension or pulling on these drains.

- In the bed, patients are positioned in a semi-sitting up position with the knees and the back bent. This reduces the tension on the tight abdomen and thighs. Once patients leave the recovery facility they are to remain in a semi-erect position when they are walking. Sitting up in a chair or a couch is absolutley fine. Make sure that you have enough cushioning and support. You may also lie on your sides, as long as you keep your body posture bent for the first 4 days after surgery.

- Most people develop muscle spasm in their back or side muscles as a result of being in a bent position for several days. This can be helped by having your significant other massage your back muscles and apply gentle heat to these areas. You should not apply heat or cold to your surgical areas because it can potentially damage the circulation in these areas and result in complications.

- Although it is good to stay well hydrated, do not drink too much plain water, fruit juices, or carbonated drinks, because they can make you more nauseated. Mostly, drink Gatorade, Gingerale, or tea.