Candidates for abdominoplasty need to be in good general health as the procedure is significant surgery.
They should be carrying excess weight in the midsection and have loose or droopy skin around the abdomen.
Have healthy expectations of the outcome and be commited to maintaining the results with regular exercise and diet.
In the 1970’s, as a 13 year old, I underwent an operation to remove a burst appendix. The surgeon cut from my tummy button down to access the abdominal area. This seven inch scar had to be opened up again for another post operation procedure and resulted in my incurring a very unsightly scar that I lived with until I was in my mid 40’s.
With the passage of time, scar adhesions wand gravity, the scar started to cause uncomfortable tension on my tummy button. The operation and scaring did not allow for a normal abdominal wall structure and I ended with a weak and protruding lower stomach. A plastic surgeon suggested a full tummy tuck would completely remove my unsightly scar and give me a flat tummy also. I agreed to go ahead with this.
Your doctor will advise you to wear a support garment to support your abdomen after the operation. This may be in the form of a wide binder type garment that goes around your abdomen or a girdle-like garment that holds together by Velcro. These will compress your and help in the healing process and assist in controlling the swelling.
You might wish to have two or three of these binders or surgical abdominal support garments to use in a rotational manner while you heal, so that you can wear one while you wash the other. Some need to be line-dried and are given their thickness are slow to dry, so having a second or third on hand is a good thing.
Abdominoplasty is not a scar-free surgery. Expect your tummy tuck scars will get worse before they get better. Your scars go through a series of changes before they are completely healed and this can take months. Scars may look their worst at about 3 months after the operation as they tend to get very red, thick and raised. They can turn a grey-purple on some people who have a desposition to this occurance. It may take up to a year for your scars flatten and fade.
Most doctors take great care in placing the incisions well below the bikini or under-pant line, so that they remain hidden, even when you’re at the beach. It is important to protect your fresh tummy tuck scars from any sun exposure to give them the best opportunity for fast healing.
Recovery from a tummy tuck surgery will take time and in the early stages be rather uncomfortable. An abdominoplasty operation is serious surgery and should not be underestimated.
On awakening after the abdominoplasty surgery, you may be groggy from the anaesthetic. From my own experience, you actually probably won’t remember much of the first day or two and should take it easy over this initial period.
Post the surgery, your abdomen may be very swollen and it may be very painful to move. Don’t wait for pain to be unbearable before you request pain medication. Take the medication given at the times prescribed as you will actually use less pain medication if you take it on time than if you wait for the pain to become severe. As pain interferes with healing there is no reason to suffer unduly.