Dr. LoVerme advises patients to wear loose, baggy clothing to and from surgery. Pick a pair of drawstring pants and a zip-up or button-up top or jacket that can easily slip over the compression garment, bandages and possible drains.
You can usually slip into your favorite jeans around 3 to 4 weeks after your tummy tuck. It's reasonable to be excited to wear your “normal” clothing and show off your new, flat midsection.
Answer: Post surgical attire
After surgery you would be most comfortable in over sized sweatpants and a zip up or button up shirt. Some patients choose to wear a robe with pockets so they can place their drainage bulbs in the pockets. The idea is to wear loose, comfortable clothing is the goal.
Usually after tummy tuck you are able to get back into normal clothes at 3 weeks. You will still be swollen it takes 6-9 months for it to completely subside. Use a compression garment to help with the swelling.
Our most popular stomach compression garment is the side fastening girdle – ideal for use after abdominoplasty or liposuction. They offer medical-grade, highly compressive qualities built into soft and comfortable fabric to ensure you can wear them everyday.
For comfort, continue to wear soft, comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Some women opt for roomy dresses instead of pants and a top. It's up to you whether you feel more comfortable in a dress. The abdominal compression garment should be worn at all times (except while bathing).
For the first week post-op, you should continue to wear loose-fitting, soft, comfy clothes. Some women prefer to wear a soft, loose dress rather than a baggy shirt and sweatpants. Whether you prefer pants or a dress, we strongly recommend investing in a soft bathrobe.
Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose skin before the procedure, for example, you could go down 4 more pants sizes.
After a tummy tuck, getting low enough to sit down on the toilet can be difficult and uncomfortable. A toilet seat booster may just be your new best friend. This device can be purchased online and delivered to your home for your convenience.
A properly performed tummy tuck can reduce your waist size and help you feel confident about your curves again. Some patients may lose many inches off their waist, while others will see more subtle results. It all depends on how much tissue can be removed safely.
Removing drains too soon may result in fluid buildup, seroma, and the need for fluid aspiration and/or a second surgery. Generally speaking, most patients who require tummy tuck drains are able to have them removed after about 1 – 3 weeks.
Exercise helps prevent blood clots, so try to get up and walk around the room every hour. However, avoid activities that strain you, and avoid heavy lifting, and prolonged standing for the first week. You won't be able to lift weights, lift your kids, or do crunches for several weeks.
– Is drain removal painful? Patients may experience a pulling or pressure sensation, however there is generally no pain experienced during drain removal. Drain removal takes only a few seconds. The stitch securing the drain in place is first removed followed by gentle removal of the drainage tube.
To summarize, following cosmetic surgery tummy tuck, most women will go down a size or two in their clothing size. Some woman won't have a change of size, and rarely some will actually go up in size.
It takes about 48 hours for an incision to close completely, so it is recommended that you wait at least 48 hours before showering. Showering too soon after surgery can cause your incision to re-open, inhibit the healing process, cause complications like infection, or worsen your surgical scars.
Will my stomach be smaller after a tummy tuck? Abdominoplasty surgery does not impact the size of the stomach or intestines themselves. Instead, the tummy tuck is used to address a number of cosmetic and structural concerns that typically result from aging, pregnancy, and weight loss, including: Loose skin.
Constipation is a common complication after surgery and can cause unwanted strain on the abdominal muscles. Avoiding constipation goes hand in hand with a proper diet. To prevent constipation, add high fiber foods to your diet both before and after the surgery to make it easier for the bowels to empty.
If you have a “mini tummy tuck” with a smaller incision, you'll likely need between one and three weeks of elevated sleeping. On the other hand, full-tummy tuck patients require about four weeks, with six weeks of limiting any strenuous exercise or lifting.
Typically, you would be in a semi-flexed position with the head and back elevated as well as the knees. If so, you can roll/pivot onto your side so the legs are over the edge of the bed and then your helper will help lift you up.
The tummy tuck is very useful when exercise and diet have failed to tighten the abdominal muscles. However, a tummy tuck is not really designed to make you look “thinner.” Rather, the tummy tuck improves the muscle profile of the abdomen, which in turn can have the effect of making you look more fit and toned.
After your tummy tuck surgery, you may probably weigh 4 to 10 pounds less, and this is due to the removal of excess skin and a bit of the fat layer attached to the excess skin. In other words, you won't see a drastic drop on the scale after the surgery.
During body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, fat cells are eliminated from the body and cannot return. Because of this, patients may gain weight in other places like the buttocks, legs, arms, and breasts.
In general, you do not need breast support during tummy tuck and you can wear regular bra after surgery.
The best sleeping position after tummy tuck surgery is on your back with your upper body elevated to create a slight bend or angle. Using pillows or sleeping in a recliner is ideal to achieve this position.