The importance of antibiotic medication after a tummy tuck
The importance of antibiotic medication after a tummy tuck
The tummy tuck is a good option to improve the appearance of the abdomen after it has been affected by multiple pregnancies, weight fluctuations, or other factors, including the natural aging process. The unsightly appearance of the abdomen can be caused by different elements and can occur on patients of different ages. However, it is important to mention that when saggy skin makes an appearance on the inferior part of the tummy, there is nothing that can correct it aside from the tummy tuck.
The tummy tuck is performed with the patient under general anesthetic and can involve a liposuction or not, depending on the initial anatomical characteristics of the patient and his desires for after the surgery. The procedure takes about two hours or more, depending on the complexity of each case, and it requires a hospitalization of no longer than 12 hours. The patient is then advised to go home and resume the recovery process that can take up to two weeks or more. During the recovery period, the patient is advised to take time off from work and also have someone around the house to help with chores, especially during the first postoperative days.
The plastic surgeon needs to ensure that the patient has all the information required for the recovery period. Hence the patient will be handed a list of dos and don’ts for the recovery period. These instructions need to be followed to the letter to ensure satisfactory results are achieved and complications are kept at bay.
Among these instructions for post-operative care, a very important one is related to the use of antibiotic medication after the tummy tuck. An experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon knows the importance of preventing infections, so he will perform the procedure with the patient receiving antibiotic medication through the IV. Aside from this, antibiotics medication will also be prescribed for five more days post-op. The patient should take the medication as prescribed by the surgeon and in the quantities prescribed.
Many patients don’t understand the importance of antibiotic medication after the tummy tuck. The tummy tuck is a major plastic surgery procedure. If a complication so severe as an infection would occur during the first few days post-op, the recovery period would be much delayed, and other complications can be triggered such as bad scarring, the opening of the incisions, skin necrosis, and delayed wound healing, to name just a few. It is crucial to avoid infections, and the success of the procedure and the wellbeing of the patient depend on this.
Antibiotic medication is prescribed not for curative reasons but for preventive purposes. However, if an infection will occur after such a complex procedure when the body is already weak due to the surgical trauma, its effect might be much more devastating than if an infection would occur when the patient is in top form.
