After Abdominoplasty surgery
Duration of surgery The operation lasts 1-3 hours, depending on the areas to be treated. It can be done under local anesthesia and intoxication, although general anesthesia is common. Abdominoplasty and length of hospital stay
Usually one night, occasionally two. In Mini-abdominoplasty usually overnight or not at all.
Bandages
You will wake up with small stickers for sores and gauze on the abdomen. A pressure corset will have already been placed by the operating room. Many gauze should be removed the next or next day. Bandages are usually required for a further 5-7 days. The pressure corset will be worn throughout the first month and will protect you in your gradual reintegration into everyday life.
Drainages
The use of one or two drains inside the abdomen is common, to remove any unwanted blood or fluid. Patients usually have drains for 48-72 hours. Immediately after their removal, patients will take a comfortable bath.
Corset
It will be used for 4 weeks after surgery and should be worn as much as possible for the first 10 days.
Off work
People differ in regaining their strength, but allow at least 2 weeks. It is the most demanding of all cosmetic surgeries and should not be considered as a minor operation. Most patients are agile and comfortable in two weeks. It may be possible for them to return to work at this stage. Patients with strenuous physical exertion may need more.
Abdominoplasty and Exercise Time
Patients usually feel able to walk comfortably in 7-10 days and swim in 3 weeks (if the abdomen is completely healed). Intense physical exercise (aerobics, etc.) should be avoided for 8 weeks. The important thing is to avoid excessive muscle strain during the first 4 weeks. Sexual activity should be judged similarly in relation to this. It is usually best avoided for the first 2-3 weeks.
Postoperative instructions
Day 1-7 You need help! You should not take care of very young children or do housework without help.
Day 7-14 You can start doing more, including essentials such as walking, shopping, etc. You will still be uncomfortable during this period but the movements become quite painless by the end of the second week.
If all the wounds are fine in two weeks, it will be unlikely to do any harm by increasing your activity.
Week 3-4 They should be able to return to work and return to your normal life.
Driving
Patients should avoid driving until they are completely free of pain and restraint. It may take up to three weeks for them to recover adequately.
Monitoring
We will check your injury according to your needs. In the first week you will be checked every two days. From the second week you will wear the corset without gauze (always according to your needs). Next appointment usually at the end of the first month, for photos and final instructions.
Abdominoplasty and Final Result
This operation gives a good result almost immediately. However, in the first week you will be very swollen. You will see a relevant result from the first month. The tissues continue to soften over time and the optimal shape will be seen after 4-6 months.
Possible complications with abdominoplasty
This is a routine operation with great success for the vast majority of patients. However, as with any surgery, it is very important to understand what can go wrong. Possible complications are listed below.
Skin loss: This is rare and usually occurs if a surgeon removes too much tissue, making the closure too tight and in combination with high risk factors (smoking, obesity and diabetes). It is very rare in low-risk patients. When it does happen, recovery can take several weeks and will result in a low quality scar. Before any procedure, we will discuss your medical history with you to determine if you are a suitable candidate.
Scars: The quality of the scars varies between patients.
Serum collection (clear fluid released into wounds): This is a collection of body fluids under the skin. It is presented as a stable mass and needs to be sucked with a needle.
Bleeding: A blood clot can collect in the abdomen and then requires reoperation, small in duration and duration, to clean and wash the area. This occurs in only about 1% of patients within the first 24 hours after surgery.
Infection: Very rare, but if it does, antibiotics may be needed.
Loss of sensation: The area just above the scar, in the adolescent’s scalp, may have a disturbed sensation.
Blood clots in the legs and lungs (Venous thrombosis and Pulmonary embolism): Although they are still rare, it is important to avoid them by not smoking, not being overweight and starting mobilization immediately after surgery or as soon as possible. . Definitely, you will be prescribed and taken home with you, a series of skin injections for after you leave the hospital (anticoagulant injections).
If you experience side effects that concern you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
