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How long does it take to recover from a Tummy Tuck?

The Tummy Tuck recovery time will depend on your health, the Tummy Tuck procedure, the skills of the surgeon and your post-operative care. The highly experienced team at Bella Vou use innovative Abdominoplasty techniques to reduce complications, improve cosmetic results and speed up your recovery after a Tummy Tuck.

How long does it take to recover from a Tummy Tuck?

The recovery time following a Tummy Tuck will depend on your health, the Tummy Tuck procedure, the skills of the surgeon and your post-operative care. The highly experienced team at Bella Vou use innovative Abdominoplasty techniques to reduce complications, improve cosmetic results and speed up your recovery after a Tummy Tuck.

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Tummy tuck Recovery : What to expect?

It takes around four to six weeks to recover from a tummy tuck, and up to three to six months before you can see the final cosmetic result. However, at Bella Vou, many of our patients feel ready to return to work less than two weeks after surgery. Between four and six weeks, you can safely reintroduce exercise, gradually increasing activity as you regain confidence and rebuild your fitness and strength.

Tummy Tuck recovery week by week

Week one:

Following your Tummy Tuck you will stay on the ward overnight. The staff will provide effective pain relief and monitor your recovery. The day following surgery you will be able to go home. However, the team will phone to check on your progress. You can shower daily without disturbing the dressings.

You will need to take time to rest and recuperate. The Bella Vou team will give you pain relief and a supportive pressure garment which you should wear for six weeks. This compression garment acts to reduce pain, bleeding, and swelling. After one week you will attend the wound check clinic and have a session of Manual Lymphatic Drainage.

Week two:

Over the second week, the pain and swelling will gradually decrease. You should wear your compression garment day and night to speed up healing. After two weeks, you may feel ready to return to work, especially if you have a sedentary job. It will take longer to feel fit and ready to return to more physically demanding roles.

Week three:

Pain, swelling and bruising will continue to reduce. You can gradually reintroduce mild exercise, progressively increasing intensity. However, it’s important to avoid heavy lifting, crunches and sit-ups that can put pressure on the wound. Choose a healthy, balanced diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables to maintain a healthy weight and prevent constipation.

Weeks four and five:

Individual recovery is variable, but most patients can continue to increase exercise and activities. Once the pain has subsided and you feel able you may be able to return to more active employment. If you are sure that you can do an emergency stop without losing control of your car, you should be able to drive again. The team will offer advice and you can contact your insurance provider for specific guidance.

Week six:

After six weeks you will have your second wound clinic review. You should be feeling stronger and fitter and can start to introduce more intensive exercises including sit-ups, crunches and weight training. You can also stop wearing your compression garments at this point. You should feel back to your normal self, but some mild swelling may remain. The final results will be visible between 12 weeks and six months following your procedure.

What is the Recovery Time for Tummy Tuck Surgery?

How long is the recovery time following Tummy Tuck surgery at Bella Vou?

The recovery time following your Tummy Tuck at Bella Vou is between four and six weeks. The specialist plastic and aesthetic surgeons have introduced a number of innovations to accelerate your rehabilitation and prevent post-surgical problems. These include:

Muscle repair:

If muscle weakness and separation aren’t repaired, the skin won’t sit smoothly on the tummy surface. At Bella Vou, muscle repair is an integral part of Tummy Tuck surgery. Our surgeons strengthen and reinforce the muscles to create a sculpted and contoured abdominal profile.

Suture techniques:

The surgeons at Bella Vou use stitching techniques and materials designed to reduce discomfort and improve healing. Many surgeons use continuous stitches which can pull, unravel and result in uncomfortable knots at the top and bottom of the repair. In contrast, our surgeons use a series of up to 70 individual knots to repair the abdominal muscles. This reduces the risk of the stitches coming undone and prevents puckering and pulling between the top and bottom knots. The surgeons uses a permanent, non-nylon suture material which is softer and more flexible than nylon, so that the knots are undetectable.

Drain-free surgery:

The surgeons don’t use drains following Abdominoplasty. This minimises pain and discomfort, reduces the risk of infection and helps Bella Vou achieve faster healing times.

Scar Clinic:

After surgery you will have three appointments at Bella Vou’s dedicated Scar Clinic. Wound specialists will review the healing process and the scar formation at one week, six weeks and six months to ensure you get optimum results.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD):

MLD is a type of advanced physical therapy which stimulates lymphatic drainage, reduces swelling and improves healing. An MLD session is included one week after surgery. The massage decreases fluid build-up and speeds up healing.

Dressing Tape:

Dressing Tape is first applied to the wound after surgery while still in theatre, this further immobilises the wound and protects it during recovery making it easier to perform important daily activities such as showering. This tape is removed for the first time at the 1 week Scar Clinic wound check so that the wound specialist can inspect the healing progress.

The tape is reapplied to the wound and the application process is demonstrated to you so that you can repeat the process yourself on a weekly basis for a 3-month period at which point the tape will no longer be required.

Top tips for tummy tuck recovery

So if they are the benefits, what are the best tips you need to know about the recovery process?

Here are our top tips for a fast and full recovery:

1. Walk around after your tummy tuck!

Physical activity is a no-no, although one thing you will be encouraged to do, post-surgery, is to walk! Yes, walking will help to prevent blood clots from forming as well as easing the swelling. Small steps to start with and then more as the recovery progresses.

2. Drink plenty of water

Hydration is key! Water is one thing that is important after surgery to help to keep a regular rhythm as well as helping relieve bloating. It has also been shown to help keep the patient in a positive mood resulting in them feeling more hopeful for a swift recovery.

3. Sleeping Position

We all need a comfortable night's sleep, although after tummy tuck surgery you do have to be careful! For a temporary period, you would be asked by your surgeon to sleep in an inclined position, with your shoulders and head raised above your body, this ensures less strain on the abdominal areas. Pillows behind the knees and back can help take the pressure away from the lower abdominal wall incision line.

Most important of all is to make sure you go back for your follow up consultation! It's a big part of your recovery process to discuss and show your surgeon the results of the surgery, as well as checking it is healing correctly.

At Bella Vou we have a huge specialised team of cosmetic surgeons who have performed countless tummy tuck procedures. So if you are after the contoured body that would make you feel like you again, then contact us to book a consultation with one of our surgeons.

At Bella Vou our specialist surgeons take great care to create a slim, contoured, natural tummy shape - whereas traditional tummy tucks can leave the patient with an unnatural, flat or boxy looking tummy. .

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