5 Ways to prepare your home for recovery after the hourglass tummy tuck
5 Ways to prepare your home for recovery after the hourglass tummy tuck
Introduction
The tummy tuck has become one of the most commonly performed procedures on women over the years, especially women who had one or multiple pregnancies or significant weight fluctuations. The signs left behind by these occurrences are difficult to erase with exercise and diets and in many cases impossible. Abdominoplasty is the only procedure that can effectively and permanently correct loose abdominal muscles and saggy skin on the inferior part of the tummy.
The procedure is a complex one and entails considerable incisions made on the lower part of the tummy in the suprapubic area, an area that is often covered by clothes and lingerie. It requires the use of a general anesthetic and a recovery period of a minimum of two weeks. If the details of the procedure are pretty straightforward and many patients know exactly what to expect in terms of the surgical plan, the details of the post-op period can cause some concerns for future patients.
In this article, we will discuss what happens after getting back home after your abdominoplasty procedure and five ways to prepare your home for your return.
What happens after the tummy tuck?
Pregnancy, weight fluctuations, and the natural aging process leave traces on the body, and while some may wear it with pride, others may find it more difficult to cope with. This is often the case with an apron belly, an appearance of the tummy characterized by an excess of skin folds on the inferior part of the abdomen. This can affect young mothers as well as patients who had bariatric surgery or have lost a massive amount of weight in a short period of time. This skin fold doesn’t go away with exercise and is a common occurrence even for patients of a normal weight. It can be caused by a condition of the abdominal muscles called diastasis recti that can only be treated surgically. Moreover, the saggy skin can only be excised to improve the appearance of the tummy. The excess skin won’t retract on the new contours of the skin in time, especially in more mature patients.
To remove the excess skin folds and to correct loose abdominal muscles, the plastic surgeon will recommend an abdominoplasty or the tummy tuck. When the tummy tuck is performed to correct the unsightly appearance of the tummy, there are three main goals that we want to achieve: get rid of unwanted fat deposits localized on the flanks and the abdominal wall (with the help of liposuction), to restore the skin tension on the tummy, and to strengthen the abdominal muscles with sutures.
When the procedure is performed, the plastic surgeon will make an incision on the lower part of the tummy, detach the skin and fat tissue from the muscles, and suture the muscles together to create a firm appearance of the tummy. Umbilical hernia will be treated as well if present. Once the imperfections of the abdominal wall have been fixed, the plastic surgeon has to re-drape the skin on the abdomen and to create the tension that will give the tummy a toned appearance. The belly button is repositioned if necessary and the incisions are sutured. Dressings are applied, and the patient can move to the recovery where she will spend the next few hours until making a complete recovery from the effects of the general anesthesia. After this, the return home is possible.
The recommendation is for the patient to have a friend or family member to drive her home, as driving is not an option after surgery. The home must also be ready for the return home after surgery.
5 Ways to prepare your home for recovery after the hourglass tummy tuck
- Fill the fridge
You might think that you will have plenty of time to do the shopping in the days off from work during recovery, but you will be in no mood for shopping after an abdominoplasty. Patients need to understand that abdominoplasty is a complex and serious surgical procedure and the patient needs rest after it is performed. Unless you have someone else who can do the shopping for you in the days that you will be indisposed after the procedure, you should do your shopping ahead of time. Fill the fridge with food, and you can even cook some meals in advance if you know you will prefer to have home-cooked meals during the recovery period. Make sure to have healthy and nutritious food in the fridge and also foods rich in nutrients and fibers as this is what is recommended after the tummy tuck to speed up metabolism and avoid constipation.
- Clean up
Don’t think for a second that you can come home from the hospital to clean up the house. The recommendation is to have the house cleaned up in advance so when you return from the medical facility, you can come home to nice, clean, fresh linens and not to worry about the dust in the living room. Also, make sure you have clean clothes for you and other family members that are in your care. Generally speaking, it is preferable to have all these sorted out days or weeks before the procedure.
- Have entertainment ready
The first few days post-op are often associated with an increased level of discomfort and even pain. This means that you will spend quite a bit of your time in bed, reading, watching TV, listening to music, and so on. Make sure you have entertainment available in the room that you will be resting in so you don’t get bored. Keeping yourself distracted is a good idea for the first few days after the procedure as this is a difficult time for patients undergoing surgery.
- Get companionship
Some of us prefer to be alone when we are unwell, while others will look for the company of others. Whatever your case might be, it is a good idea to have someone help you around the house during the first few days post-op. This could be a friend, family member, or a partner. Complications can occur after any type of surgical procedure of this complexity, and it is good to have someone around to drive you to the hospital in case it is necessary.
- Get rid of the drama
This might sound like a strange recommendation after plastic surgery, but the reality is that if you want to have a fast and smooth recovery process and to maximize the results, you need rest, good food, and a drama-free environment. This means that if there is drama going around in your home within your family, you should get rid of this during the preparation stages before undergoing the tummy tuck. You need at least a week of stress-free recovery after such a complex procedure. If this means that you need to send your kids to your in-laws or encourage your significant other to go out of town, make sure to do the preparations well in advance.
After the procedure, there are slight to no chances that you will be up to doing chores for others for at least a few days. You will experience pain and discomfort to a certain extent, and you need to be left in peace to heal at your own pace. Your home needs to be your safe place and your refuge, somewhere where you feel good and nurtured and not a war zone. Keep this in mind when preparing the home for the recovery period after the tummy tuck.
Conclusion
The tummy tuck is a complex surgery preferred by many women who have had multiple pregnancies or suffered considerable weight fluctuations. The results can be spectacular, but they come at the cost of a two-week recovery period. To have an uneventful recovery period and a smooth healing, you will need to prepare your home even before going to the clinic to undergo abdominoplasty. To prepare your home for return from surgery, make sure to clean, cook and do all the shopping way in advance. Moreover, ensure you have companionship and entertainment for the first week of your post-operative period and that your home is a drama-free zone.
