Recovering from an abdominoplasty expert advice

Most patients have questions about what recovery looks like for a full abdominoplasty, how fast they will see results, and how soon they can return to their normal activities after surgery. Here, I will answer all your questions about downtime, hospital stay, driving, time off work and more after a full abdominoplasty.

 

Welcome to the surgery podcast, this is Dr Bernard Beldholm. I’m a Registered medical practitioner, FRACS, Specialist surgeon and my medical registration number is MED0001186274. The content on this podcast is considered adult content.

This podcast focuses mainly on Post weight loss surgery and surgery post pregnancy. Ranging from

• Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck)

• Belt lipectomy (body lift)

• Fleur de lis abdominoplasty

• Brachioplasty (arm lift)

• Thighplasty (inner thigh lift)

I will also discuss breast surgery in the context of post weight loss and post pregnancy changes.

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I perform a variety of full abdominoplasties. These may range from skin only, to abdominoplasties that incorporate Vaser liposuction, diastasis recti repair and possible hernia repairs.

A full abdominoplasty is usually done as an in-patient procedure with 1 to 3 days in hospital. Depending on your work type, you can return to work in 2-4 weeks after surgery. You can generally return to driving in 2-3 weeks after surgery.

What will my first week of recovery look like after an abdominoplasty?

The night of the procedure can vary. If you have had liposuction as part of your surgery then you will generally have local anesthetic wetting solution that will provide some pain relief. You will also have a PCA (patient controlled analgesia). Some patients are very comfortable on the first night. Others find it very uncomfortable. There is a lot of noise in the hospital and nurses may need to check your BP regularly throughout the night. It is likely that you will not have a very good sleep the first night.

You will be quite swollen after surgery. After surgery, patients will be given a compression garment to wear day and night for four weeks to reduce swelling. After that, you will only need to wear it for half the day. Many patients say they feel comforted by the gentle compression.

The next day after surgery is usually the worst in terms of discomfort. You will feel very sore by the afternoon since the local anesthetic will have worn off. Non-narcotic pain medication will ease your discomfort. It is important to get out of bed and do your breathing exercises even if you don’t feel like it starting on day one. Dr. Beldholm will go over the breathing technique with you before you head home.

The first 2-3 days are usually the hardest to get through. After that, you will still be sore and have some discomfort, but you will also notice that your discomfort gets a little easier each day.

How painful is an abdominoplasty really?

One of the top questions patients have is how much pain they should expect after a tummy tuck. While recovering from any surgery isn’t a walk in the park, most patients compare their post-op pain as similar to a C-section.

In terms of pain, you won’t feel 100 percent the first week after surgery, but most patients find the pain and discomfort surprisingly manageable. You will also be given pain medication to help make you feel better.

That said, you won’t be running a marathon a few weeks later, nor will you be doing sit ups or carrying heavy groceries during week two of recovery. That is just the reality of it. It is important that you give yourself time to heal.

The truth is that the average patient mainly just feels uncomfortable and quite sore during the first week, along with some mild pain as they get accustomed to moving around. You will not experience excruciating pain if you treat your body gently and take it easy.

The hard part is really just adjusting to limitations on your mobility due to soreness. This can be frustrating or surprising at first, since trying to move as freely as you normally would might hurt at first.

Why do patients report such differences in pain after having tummy tuck?

If you’ve ever used a search engine to ask about pain after tummy tuck, you likely read a lot of conflicting information. There are several reasons for this. Let’s take a look at four reasons why patients may experience pain differently after a tummy tuck:

1. Individual pain tolerance

First, pain tolerance and also perception of pain can vary greatly. What one patient might describe as “the worst pain I have ever felt in my life” to what another might call “pretty sore” can sometimes be a matter of semantics. We all express and feel things differently.

For most patients, a tummy tuck involves moderate soreness with swelling and discomfort that is well managed with pain medication.

2. Every patient’s surgery is different

Some tummy tuck procedures are more involved than others.

Full Abdominoplasty has many variations

1. Skin only abdominoplasty

2. Abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction

3. Abdominoplasty with diastasis recti repair

4. Abdominoplasty with hernia repair

the least painful abdominoplasty will be the skin only full abdominoplasty, The most painful will be the abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction, muscle repair and hernia repair.

The amount of skin and fat removed during body contouring varies by patient. No two patients are exactly alike. Naturally, some patients need more tissue removed than others, even if they have the exact same procedure. The differences may be slight, but it can contribute to how much discomfort they report after surgery.

3. Your age and health can affect your recovery

Your age and general health may affect how easy or difficult you find recovery. Patients who lead a healthy lifestyle will logically experience faster recovery than those in poor health. Being in good physical health means your body is in optimal condition to recover quickly.

Another factor to consider is age. For wound healing, younger patients heal faster than older patients. Younger patients produce more collagen, for example, which speeds tissue healing. This means wounds heal quicker. While young patients heal faster, older patients have the advantage of scars that lighten and fade sooner.

Getting healthy

While you can’t wave a magic wand and turn back time, there are some things you can do before surgery to boost your physical health. This includes eating a nutritious diet, taking a daily multivitamin, staying fit and drinking plenty of water. Taking steps to better your health may help improve your ability to “bounce back” after surgery.

Water is especially important after surgery. Staying hydrated is essential to wound healing. You will experience post-op swelling, and your body will need more water than usual. It is advisable to drink plenty of water following surgery, even if you don’t feel particularly thirsty.

Ways to reduce your pain after an Abdominoplasty

I will prescribe Panadol as well as anti-inflammatory medications for pain. These non-narcotic medications offers mild to moderate pain relief. Most patients do not require anything stronger than that to recover from tummy tuck surgery. Panadol is well tolerated among patients with few, if any, side effects. Narcotic medications are prescribed as a backup and you can take these as needed at home.

The key to curbing pain after surgery is to always stay ahead of your medication. Pain relievers are designed to “take the edge” off your pain and discomfort. Panadol is a very effective medication. However, this can lead some patients to believe that they are further along in their healing than they really are, leading them to skip a dose. That is a mistake in early recovery. It can feel more difficult to get rid of new pain than it is to prevent pain from starting in the first place.

Compression garment after abdominoplasty surgery

 

Swelling is also part of recovery. After surgery, you will be given a specially-fitted compression garment to wear day and night for four weeks, which will reduce swelling.

Then, from weeks 4-6 you only need to wear it half the day. You can wear the garment day or night during this time— whichever is more comfortable for you. If you notice more swelling during the day, wear it during the day. If this occurs more at night, wear it to bed instead.

Most swelling diminishes in the first 3-6 months, but mild swelling can persist for up to 12 months, usually on the lower belly.

Another way to reduce pain is to listen to your body, rest and relax. Eating well, drinking plenty of water and giving your body time to heal can make a meaningful difference in your recovery. In the days following surgery, it is recommended for you to have assistance from a friend or family member. This is your time to take it easy.

Light walking and breathing exercises can also improve recovery. Dr. Beldholm will go over instructions for this before your surgery.

Mobility after an Abdominoplasty

Contrary to popular belief, you will not be bedridden after having a tummy tuck. In fact, Dr. Beldholm encourages his patients to get up and walking the very next day. You don’t need to overexert yourself, but it is good to push through the discomfort and get moving a little early on.

Patients who walk after surgery tend to recover faster, plus walking is the easiest way to lower your risk of a blood clot forming. The first few days, you can just take a few laps around your home every few hours. By the next week or two, you can start going for nice walks outside.

Getting back to the gym after a tummy tuck

Active patients and fitness junkies will need to take it easy post-op. You will begin feeling up for more activity around 2-4 weeks, but you should avoid exertion, heavy lifting, working out, etc. Walking is ideal at this stage.

By week 3-6, many patients start feeling back to normal. By 6-8 weeks after surgery, most can resume exercises, going to the gym and light running. At this point if you feel up for it, you can get back into your fitness routine. Just don’t overexert yourself. Always listen to your body and take it slow until you feel comfortable.

Driving after a tummy tuck

One of the first things patients want to know is how soon they can drive after a tummy tuck. Patients are usually eager to get their independence back after surgery, but it is important to listen to your body and follow your surgeon’s advice. Don’t rush getting back behind the wheel until you are truly ready to do so

• Full Vaser Lipo Abdominoplasty – Typically return to driving in 2-3 weeks

Let’s talk about some reasons why you shouldn’t drive early in recovery. To start, you could not drive immediately after surgery even if you wanted to because of the anesthesia. Anesthesia leaves your mind groggy. After any surgery with anesthesia, it would be unsafe drive for at least the first 24 hours. You will need a ride home from the hospital.

Not only should you not drive right away right away, but really, you wouldn’t be up for it! The first 1-3 days after surgery are the most challenging. Expect to be sore with limited mobility for a few weeks after surgery. Because of your reduced mobility, reaction times will be slower. This is unsafe for proper defensive driving, and it could harm you and others around you.

Requesting time off work for a tummy tuck

Most patients take 2-4 weeks off work on average. The length of time you will take off work depends on two things: the type of tummy tuck, and the physical demands of your job.

For example, a receptionist can return to work sooner than a warehouse worker. If your job doesn’t require heavy lifting, a lot of running around or driving, you can return to work in about two weeks.

Allow yourself plenty of time to heal after surgery. If you have concerns about when you can return to work after surgery, you can always discuss this with your surgeon.

Duration of your hospital stay

This can vary depending on the procedure you’ve had. For smaller tummy tuck surgeries, you can leave the hospital the same day of surgery. For bigger procedures, you will stay in the hospital for a few days. This is a guideline for each of the four tummy tuck procedures Dr. Beldholm offers:

Timeline for Your Hospital Stay After an Abdominoplasty

Let’s talk about some reasons why you shouldn’t drive early in recovery. To start, you could not drive immediately after surgery even if you wanted to because of the anesthesia. Anesthesia leaves your mind groggy. After any surgery with anesthesia, it would be unsafe drive for at least the first 24 hours. You will need a ride home from the hospital.

Not only should you not drive right away right away, but really, you wouldn’t be up for it! The first 1-3 days after surgery are the most challenging. Expect to be sore with limited mobility for a few weeks after surgery. Because of your reduced mobility, reaction times will be slower. This is unsafe for proper defensive driving, and it could harm you and others around you.

Final results after a tummy tuck

Immediately after surgery, you will be elated to see that all the excess fat and skin is gone. However, it will take around twelve months to see your final cosmetic result (longer if you had a more complex surgery with a lot of skin and fat removed).

Patients are understandably eager to see their new body. So why does it take so long to get the final results? There are a few reasons. One reason is that you will be swollen after surgery. Most swelling subsides in 3-6 months, but a little swelling can remain for twelve months or so.

Secondly, surgical scars take time to fade. This usually occurs in the first 1-2 years. During surgery, Dr. Beldholm will close the incision with surgical glue placed on your skin. The glue will peel off in about ten days to two weeks. He will also place absorbable stitches inside the wound where you cannot see them. These will dissolve on their own, so you do not need to have the sutures removed.

Scars take time to heal. The perfect scar is a thin, faint white line that blends into your skin. Of course, every patient’s body responds to scarring differently. While surgeons aim to make clean, minimal incisions, no one can control how your skin heals. Younger patients usually take a bit longer to resolve scars, while older patient’s scars tend to fade more quickly.

Well-placed scars can be hidden under clothes, and scar gel can be used to help scars heal attractively. Most patients feel the outcome of surgery is well worth it.

As you can see, recovering from a tummy tuck is a process that takes time, but the results can be truly spectacular.

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for the comments - QUESTIONS ONLY - NO TESTIMONIALS IN COMMENTS DUE TO AHPRA GUIDELINES.

From 1st July 2023 a GP Referral will be required for all procedures.

Call us on: (02) 4934-5700 or book online: https://beldholm.com.au/book-online/

I’m based in Newcastle & the Hunter Valley in Australia

Hunter Valley Office

30 Belmore Rd
Lorn NSW 2320

 

Newcastle Office

H+ Consulting Suites
Cooks Hill Healthcare Hub
Suite 3, 235 Darby Street
Cooks Hill, New South Wales, 2300

 

Disclaimer

Surgery is a serious decision.

You can find more information about risks & recovery on my website:

https://beldholm.com.au/about/disclaimer/

All Surgery is performed by me Dr Bernard Beldholm my medical registration number is MED0001186274 and my qualifications area

M.B.B.S B.Sc (Med) FRACS,

I’m a Registered medical practitioner and specialist surgeon (specialist registration in Surgery – general surgery).

The content on this podcast is considered Adult content. Individual results may vary. All surgery carries risks. You should seek a second opinion before proceeding. The opinions that are expressed on this podcast are those of Dr Bernard Beldholm & these opinions may differ from other doctors’ opinions.

The information provided on and through this podcast is not medical advice and should not be relied on. It is “best efforts” and for general information only. Do not use this podcast as a substitute for medical advice or self or other diagnosis.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from a qualified health practitioner. Results, recovery & potential complications will vary for each individual patient. Photos & videos featured are not a guarantee that your results will be the same & do not guarantee a particular surgical outcome. Content on our Instagram page & other social media pages is published with the consent of our patients. The content featured is general in nature and does not constitute medical advice. Immediate post-op results may differ from the final result.