
23 Oct Abdominoplasty Recovery: Facts to Know
Abdominoplasty is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures, and there is always a recovery process involved. One of the most important things to consider pre-surgery is making sure you’re prepared for this recovery.
Abdominoplasty recovery can be a long process, requiring a lot of rest and attentive care. Therefore, if you are interested in this surgery, you should ensure that you are well-educated on what you might expect – not just from the surgery itself but also from the recovery afterwards.
Read on to learn some important facts about abdominoplasty recovery, including possible timelines and long-term effects. However, the best way to gain specific information about what you could expect from a personalised surgery is to consult with a well-trained plastic surgeon such as Dr Laniewski.
Here are some facts to know about abdominoplasty recovery:
Why people get abdominoplasty surgery
First, let’s be clear about what the procedure does and why it’s done. Abdominoplasty is a surgery that aims to remove skin and fat tissue from the body’s abdomen. Surgeons work carefully to remove this tissue by making incisions.
The purpose of this is to:
- Address the aesthetic appearance of the abdominal area
- Remove excess skin after pregnancy or weight loss
- Repair separated abdominal muscles
- Address skin irritation due to excess skin
Several techniques can aim to achieve this: the traditional method, the ‘mini’ abdominoplasty, the fleur-de-lis method, and others. You can decide which might suit you once you have discussed your options, risks, and expectations with Dr Laniewski.
First step to abdominoplasty recovery: preparation
You may be tempted to think that pre-surgery preparation and post-surgery care are two separate things. But they’re not entirely unrelated in the sense that preparation can have a big impact on how the body heals and recovers after surgery.
Preparing properly for the surgery can be a great help to your post-operative healing. This is, firstly, because healthy habits before surgery make your body better equipped to deal with the potentially long recovery. These habits might include:
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Staying physically active
- Not smoking in the lead-up to surgery (and for several weeks afterwards)
And secondly, adequate preparation can relieve a lot of stress that comes along with daily household and work duties. Making the right arrangements and having good support means that you can spend enough time resting during recovery. For example:
- Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery
- Ensure you have someone to help with childcare and household chores
- Organise to take time off work
What to expect right after surgery
The procedure is typically performed with general anaesthesia, which means patients are asleep for the surgery. Afterwards, you can expect dressings covering the incision sites and possibly drains to avoid a build-up of fluid.
Patients can usually expect some discomfort, especially in the first few days of recovery, which can be managed with prescribed pain medication. They will also have some bruising, swelling, and other side effects which should begin to subside over the following days and weeks.
It’s beneficial for patients to start carefully walking as soon as they are able (in a bent-over position to avoid straining the incision). It’s also important to stay well-hydrated, especially during this phase of recovery.
Recovering at home
In the initial recovery, patients’ mobility will be limited, and it’s important to give the body time to rest and heal. Dr Laniewski will give specific aftercare instructions about how to care for the incision site and when you can resume normal activities. Typically, abdominoplasty recovery might require you to:
- Take two to four weeks off work, but more time might be needed if you have a very physically demanding job
- Avoid exercise, except for light walking when you feel ready
- Gradually, increase your levels of activity, being careful to listen to your body
- Avoid smoking and consuming alcohol, as these can slow your healing
- Sleep with your head tilted in a slightly upright position by using extra pillows
- Avoid lifting heavy objects or anything that could put a strain on your abdomen
- Wear loose, breathable clothing, as this can help you feel more comfortable
Although you’ll have to wait at least a couple of weeks to resume work and exercise, you might feel well enough to resume some light activities. For example, some patients can resume tasks like driving and cooking after only a week.
However, make sure to check with Dr Laniewski about when you can resume your activities, and most importantly, listen to your body. You should aim to slowly increase your activity whilst being gentle and not overexerting yourself.
Long-term effects and scarring
Recovery is a gradual process. It can take two or three months for side effects like swelling and bruising to completely subside, and it will take even longer for the scar to mature.
Scars are a normal part of surgery recovery. Scar maturation can take several months to a year or, in some cases, longer. Although scars won’t ever disappear completely, they will become paler, beginning with an inflamed, red, or raised appearance and fading to become a flat, pale line. This is the case for most patients, but keep in mind that some individuals are prone to large, raised, or hypertrophic scars.
An important part of the abdominoplasty recovery process is to have realistic expectations. You can discuss the long-term effects and type of scar you can expect during a consultation with Dr Laniewski.
Choosing Dr Laniewski for abdominoplasty surgery in Sydney
Getting abdominoplasty surgery can be an extensive process, from planning to consultations, to surgery, and finally, to recovery. It can help to have the reassuring guidance of a qualified surgeon who can make good recommendations and support you along the way.
Although qualified surgeons use well-founded surgical techniques, every individual surgery must be tailored to the patient’s body and needs. For this reason, every patient has to meet with their surgeon to discuss their needs and develop a plan for surgery. During your consultation in Sydney, Dr Laniewski can explain the abdominoplasty recovery process in more detail, as well as the risks, benefits, and expected outcomes.
Book your consultation to learn more about abdominoplasty.
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