

The pain meds do a number on your system, and you’ll get backed up. Interested in tummy tuck? Find Doctors Near You 6. “Also, staying well-hydrated is very important during the healing phases.” “During healing, the body is in a hypermetabolic state, and the boosted proteins and vitamins help substantially,” he says.

Shafer is also a fan of adding protein to your diet post-op and recommends his patients drink a protein shake (like Muscle Milk) every day for one week before surgery and two weeks after surgery. “I typically suggest my patients supplement protein with a scoop of the protein powder of their choice daily.”ĭr. “Eating pineapple can help minimize bruising because of the bromelain in it, and it is important to ensure you get enough protein to heal the large wound,” he says. Plant seconds this, saying there are no limitations on your diet before or after your tummy tuck but that eating “cleaner” food will help your body recover better. Also, eating a healthy diet in the days leading up to your surgery can ensure that your body has the energy it needs to recover after sedation.ĭr. I got to the hospital and while waiting to be taken back, my IBS kicked in. Eat a light diet the day before your cosmetic procedure.īe smart about your diet-it’s not a good idea to eat heavy Mexican food, like I did, the day before going under general anesthesia. Related: What Exactly to Look for in Tummy Tuck Before-and-Afters: Plastic Surgeons Say the Best Outcomes Have 3 Things in Common 5. “Water is much heavier than fat, so no matter how much excess fat was removed, patients will be retaining more water and will weigh more-the scale will start to get back to normal after a week or two.” “If you were to step on the scale the next day, you’d weigh a fair bit more because of the swelling and the IV fluids,” explains Dr. My tummy did not look like those “after” photos right after surgery, because of all the swelling and water weight-plus those pictures were all probably taken months after the initial surgery, so don’t expect those results you saw online to happen to your body right away. Before getting my tummy tuck surgery, I looked up “tummy tuck before and after” photos online, to see results from others. Your body will be carrying excess fluid for at least the first month, so you’ll likely notice some weight gain. Do not-and I repeat, do not-weigh or measure yourself for the first eight weeks. I had visions of the tummy being removed, fat being sucked out of my hips, and running out to a party the next week. Your clothes won’t fit for a while.ĭon’t even think about jumping into that pair of skinny jeans anytime soon-it’s just not going to happen. “I also have patients use Reston foam under their garment, to help smooth the skin,” says Dr. Wearing binders and compression garments around the midsection after surgery is what really helps the swelling after a tummy tuck and keeps sutures in place. David Shafer, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, some people have hardly any tummy tuck swelling, while for others it may be more substantial. “If liposuction was done, then hard spots of isolated swelling can be felt for even longer than that.”Īccording to Dr. “The tummy tuck swelling can be significant and will be visible for up to three months,” says Dr. The pain after a tummy tuck isn’t much fun either.

If you’re wondering how long swelling lasts after a tummy tuck, know that it’s different for everyone but can take weeks to months and be a lot to handle, so hang tough for the first few weeks. They tell you that you’ll be swollen, and wow, that couldn’t be more of an understatement-at least in my experience. “It will take one to two weeks for to be walking fully upright again and about six weeks to get back to most activities.” 2. “In general, I suggest patients book two to three weeks off work,” says Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Please plan on taking a minimum of two weeks off work-three to four, if you can swing it. What the heck? I am a smart woman, but this was really stupid thinking. I went in thinking I was going to be up and running in two weeks.

Interested in tummy tuck? Find Doctors Near You 1.
