A tummy tuck can remove excess fat and skin from your midsection, transforming your appearance. As such, you are probably looking forward to waking up from surgery, powering through your recovery, and enjoying your brand new look. But before you even make it to the surgical center, you'll need to spend some time preparing for your tummy tuck. Here's what that typically entails.
Bloodwork
Your doctor has probably already given you the go-ahead for tummy tuck surgery, but they'll generally still want you to have some blood work done before the procedure just to make sure there's nothing to worry about. This blood work may entail a look at the levels of your liver enzymes, thyroid hormone levels, and other hormone levels. Basically, your surgeon just needs to make sure you're in good enough overall health to withstand a procedure as invasive as a tummy tuck.
Medication Changes
It's very important that you tell your surgeon, ahead of time, about any medications you are taking. This includes any herbal supplements. The skin on your stomach is especially sensitive, and there are a lot of blood vessels in this area, so excessive bleeding is a concern after surgery. Many medications can aggravate the risk of excessive bleeding, so quitting them before surgery is your safest bet.
If you smoke or drink alcohol, you will also need to cease those habits before surgery.
Environmental Modification
After a tummy tuck, you will be unable to bend at the waist or reach about your head for at least a couple of weeks while your incisions are healing. It's easier to avoid doing these things if you prepare your home in advance. Move everything you normally use onto shelves that are between your waist level and eye level so you do not need to bend down or reach up to grab anything.
You may also want to leave out items you know you'll need post-surgery, like remote controls and pain relievers, to make things easier on yourself.
Set Up Physical Therapy
While physical therapy is not always necessary after a tummy tuck, it can be really helpful. A physical therapist can help you become active again without putting too much strain on your incisions. They can also help you re-learn how to balance and move without the excess stomach tissue, which can be really helpful if you're having a larger panniculus removed.
Undergoing a tummy tuck can be transformational. If you take the time to prepare in advance, the recovery process will go more smoothly, too.
For more information about tummy tucks, talk to your doctor.
Share22 January 2021
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