When it comes to a patient deciding whether or not to get a tummy tuck, their first concern is often with how much does a tummy tuck cost. While this important, it is even more important to discuss the actual tummy tuck recovery process. Therefore, this section will cover some of the aspects that someone who undergoes a tummy tuck can expect to experience.
First, you should not expect to assume any kind of normal routine for the first week following your surgery. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that you may not even be able to stand up straight for the first few days following the surgery. This occurs because the cosmetic surgeon will remove any excess skin.
Next, you may notice the incision spot turning red, along with some associated bruising. This is normal, so don’t worry about it too much.
After your surgery, the surgeon is going to send you home with a detailed list of instructions (such as how to clean the wound, when to take antibiotics, etc. You will need to make sure that you are following these directions to the letter.
When you first look at your stomach, don’t become too flustered if you don’t like the way it looks. Whether you realize it or not, it can actually take up to 6 months for your body to assume its final appearance.
With that said, when you first look at your incision, it will be very dark. This scarring will most likely fade, although it will never disappear altogether. As a side note, if you are a smoker, your chance of the scarring remaining visible significantly increases.
As we have shown, a tummy tuck is a major invasive cosmetic surgery which will require some time to fully recover. While you may wish to hurry the recovery, the smart thing to do is simply take the required time to heal properly.
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