Do you have a belly? Does it stay with you, no matter how much you diet and exercise? Maybe you’ve even lost weight, only to discover that your tummy continues to haunt you. This is especially common after pregnancy, when you are also dealing with stretched skin and abdominal muscles. You’re not alone.
A tummy tuck will give you the smoother, firmer belly you’ve always wanted. This procedure removes excess skin and fat from the middle and lower abdomen, and tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall.
General anesthesia is the gold standard for this operation. Under this type of anesthesia, you are fully asleep; there is no pain and no awareness. Safety and comfort are paramount. Your anesthesia provider has a wealth of experience in facial procedures, safety, and care. You will spend one to two hours in a fully-monitored and state-of-the art recovery room at the surgery center. Your registered nurse will be at your side every moment to attend to your safety and comfort.
After your tummy tuck procedure, dressings or bandages will be applied to your incisions, and you will be wrapped in an elastic bandage or a compression garment to minimize swelling and to support your abdomen as it heals. You may have a small, thin tube placed under the skin in order to avoid accumulation of fluids.
Dr. Koplin strongly believes it is best and safest for his abdominoplasty patients to have a two or three-day recovery at an accredited aftercare facility, of which there are several we can recommend. They will take wonderful care of you, and he is convinced that his patients can save as much as a week’s recovery time for every day they spend there. Following this, we’ll send you home with specific care instructions, as well as information about medications that can aid healing and reduce the potential for infection, specific concerns to look for at the surgical site or in your overall health, and when to follow-up with Dr. Koplin.
Attention to detail, expertise in surgical technique, and expertise in liposuction sets Dr. Koplin apart from other surgeons. He may use a combination of these techniques to give you the shapely tummy you deserve.
First Week:
The day after surgery, you should be up and about, taking short walks to promote blood circulation.
Straining, bending and lifting must be avoided, since these activities might cause increased swelling or even bleeding.
We may ask you to wear a support garment for several weeks.
You will need to sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees, or on your side.
You will be wearing a support garment for a few weeks, until you are feeling stronger and ready to resume exercise and full activities.
Stitches are all dissolving and do not have to be removed! Dr. Koplin uses a special type of suturing that never creates “Frankenstein” marks.
Second Week and Beyond:
Depending on the extent of your abdominoplasty and your general physical condition, you may be able to return to non-strenuous work anywhere from one to three weeks after surgery. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, after a few weeks.
You need to avoid any sexual activity for at least two weeks, and Dr. Koplin may advise you to wait longer.
You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling during this time, but such feelings are normal.
Most patients experience tightness of the abdomen and sides (this is good!), but rarely significant discomfort. Severe pain should be reported immediately to Dr. Koplin.
You will have some numbness that persists for several months.
Incisions will initially be red or pink in color. They’ll heal and fade over time, and will hopefully be narrow and barely visible. Fortunately, Dr. Koplin conceals incisions in areas easily concealed by most bathing suits and undergarments.
Swelling and bruising will disappear over a period of weeks, and you should be able to stand tall by the end of the first week. However, it may be months before all swelling subsides and you see the final result of your tummy tuck.
Your tummy tuck will result in a flatter, firmer abdomen. You’ll feel more comfortable in your clothing and more confident about your appearance. Following repair and tightening of the abdominal muscles, many patients who have back problems notice significant improvement in symptoms as a result of Dr. Koplin’s creation of a stronger central core. Ask Dr. Koplin about this at your consultation.
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