Aftercare and Recovery From a Fort Worth Tummy Tuck

In addition to the procedure itself, many people come to us asking about the recovery process after an abdominoplasty. While the aftercare and recovery from a Fort Worth tummy tuck will take several weeks, you will be well-prepared for it. Our Board-eligible and Board-certified plastic surgeons will provide you with everything you need to know, from pain management to activity timelines.

4 Critical Things to Do in the Days After Tummy Tuck Surgery

1. WALK – Patients need to get up, get walking and get moving. They should plan to walk for 5 minutes every hour while they are awake. The most dangerous thing after tummy tucks is the development of blood clots in the legs that can travel to the heart and lungs. The way to avoid this is to get up, get walking, and get moving.
2. BREATHE – After a tummy tuck, the tightening of the muscles makes taking deep breaths painful. For this reason, patients tend to take shallow breaths. The problem is that this can lead to collapse of the tiny air sacs at the bottom of the lungs which can lead to pneumonia. The way around this is to practice taking deep breaths. We recommend using an incentive spirometer 5 minutes every hour while awake to help expand the lungs.
3. DRINK – Following a tummy tuck where aggressive liposuction is performed, your body will swell in the areas where liposuction was performed. While you will feel puffy, it is important to know that the fluid is coming from your vascular system making your heart work hard to pump the little fluid left through your vascular system. For this reason, it is critical to drink a ton of electrolyte containing fluids like low-sugar Gatorade and Pedialyte in the first 72 hours after surgery. A good measure of the adequacy of fluid intake is your urine. It should be clear to very light yellow in color. If it is dark yellow or brown, you need to increase the fluid intake.
4. AVOID COVID – COVID-19 significantly increases the risk for post-surgery complications. Avoid sick contacts and take precautions for the first 6 weeks after surgery. If you do contract COVID, make sure that you communicate it to your surgeon.

General Timeline for Recovery

The recovery timeline can be variable from patient to patient, as all bodies and pain thresholds can be slightly different. The most basic timeline for tummy tuck recovery is a return to work after about two to three weeks for most patients in Fort Worth. Ultimately, it will depend on how they feel – as well as their type of job.

Patients have multiple follow-up visits scheduled after their procedure. They will have a phone conversation with a nurse the day after surgery so we can answer any questions and the nurse can reinforce the post-operative care regimen. From there, we will have appointments at one week after, generally as the drains are coming out, as well as at three and six weeks after, and then at three months.

Pain Control

At North Texas Plastic Surgery, we engage in multimodal pain therapy regimen after surgery, meaning every patient is given different kinds of pain medicines that work on different pain receptors. As a result, we are decreasing any post-operative discomfort from multiple areas to make their recovery process as smooth as possible. Most patients feel like they can return to work for a relatively standard desk type job after about two and three weeks after surgery.

How Soon Can I Return to Exercise?

Immediately after tummy tuck surgery, patients will have a posture of being stooped-over at the waist for seven to 10 days until they feel a little more comfortable to stand up straight. We do not want to put excess pressure on the internal sutures, so patients are restricted from engaging in exercise for the first three weeks after surgery. That includes formal exercise at s gym or in classes, but it is still important to walk and be mobile during that time.

After about three weeks, they are usually approved to do cardio, something that can get their heart rate around 100 bpm but not maximize their heart rate. Then after six weeks, they can return to full activities including weight training, yoga, and pilates. One of our surgeons can advise if these dates should be pushed back.

When Will I See Results?

A patient will immediately notice results after surgery if there is a large amount of skin and fat removed, in addition to the muscles coming together. However, there will always be swelling that takes a while to resolve. The general rule of thumb is that you are going to start feeling great at six weeks, start looking great at three months, but can expect final results closer to six months after surgery.

The results of tummy tuck procedure are long-term. As long as you are able to maintain a healthy lifestyle with no major weight fluctuations, you should see permanent results.

Can I Still Get Pregnant?

While pregnancy is not forbidden or dangerous after a tummy tuck, it generally produces changes to the body that may decrease the effectiveness of the surgery, like skin laxity or abdominal muscle separation. This means it is ideal to have tummy tuck only after the patient’s last pregnancy.

Our Fort Worth Team Will Provide Support During Your Tummy Tuck Aftercare and Recovery Phase

When you choose North Texas Plastic Surgery, you are working with a team that is always available to answer your questions and ease you through the initial weeks of post-op recovery. Schedule a consultation in our Fort Worth office to discuss your tummy tuck and the aftercare and recovery you can expect.