Tummy Tuck Post Surgery Care And Supplies
This article is about the tummy tuck and the recovery period after the operation. It explains the care and supplies needed for a successful operation and recovery.
A tummy tuck,
otherwise known as an abdominoplasty is an invasive procedure that is used to trim excess fat, tissue and skin from a patient to create a svelte and trim appearance in the region of the abdomen. Many people think that it causes a person to lose weight but, in reality, the person has to lose weight before the doctor is likely to recommend this operation for the individual. The idea is to remove the excesses and to connect trimmed areas for a leaner abdomen. The surgery is pretty straightforward and is usually considered a major one.
Recovery:
Immediately after the tummy tuck, the patient is brought to a room where she can recover from the ordeal. The patient might take some time to rouse from the anesthetic given during the operation. All the while that she is in the recovery room nurses and hospital staff will monitor her vitals to make sure nothing can go wrong. The patient will wake up without the comfort of anesthesia and will feel some pain in the region of the stomach. Stitches are used to keep the skin and tissue together in order for these to heal.
Medication is prescribed to the woman to help ease the discomfort, prevent infections reduce the swelling and to facilitate faster healing. These should be followed and taken accordingly to prevent complications. The necessary supplies are usually applied to the incisions to keep these from splitting open or being infected with germs and bacteria. Care of the wounds is usually outlined in the doctor's instructions. The individual may be encouraged to stay overnight or longer in order to make sure all is well with her.
The surgeon may recommend a compression garment after the tummy tuck as a method of precaution and protection. This will help the patient deal with discomfort and pain and encourage the skin and tissues to heal well. Strenuous movements and activities should be avoided for the first few days after the abdominoplasty. Movement is encouraged in order to get the body back in its pre-operative state. Constantly lying down can encourage a slower healing rate and may even cause some complications to arise. The right diet of healthy foods can hasten healing. Eventually, going back to daily activities and some form of exercise is recommended by the medical professional who did the surgery.
Scarring is inevitable and the patient should expect to see some raised, pinkish ones up to a few months after the tummy tuck. In many cases, these eventually go down and lose their redness. For others, the bumpiness and discoloration may still be there and additional surgery may be necessary to get rid of it. There are some ointments that can reduce their appearance but not all individuals react positively to these.
These are most of the post-operative care points that patients who have undergone a tummy tuck might want to keep in mind. Surgeons might add more specific points that are aimed at getting the patient to heal quickly and efficiently.