- First day care
- 1st week care
- When to drive again
- When you get back to work
- When to go back to the gym
- Warning signs
Total recovery from abdominoplasty occurs approximately 60 days after surgery, if there are no complications. During this period it is normal to experience pain and discomfort, which can be alleviated with the use of painkillers and the modeling belt, in addition to taking care of the posture for walking and sleeping.
Generally, the results are visible right after the surgery, leaving the belly flat, flat and without fat, although it may remain swollen and bruised for about 3 weeks, especially when liposuction is also performed on the abdomen or back, at the same time. time.
First day care
The first 48 hours after the surgery are those in which the patient has the most pain and, for this reason, he must remain in bed, lying on his back and the analgesic indicated by the doctor, in addition to never removing the brace and making movements with his feet and legs. to prevent thrombosis.
1st week care
During the 8 days following surgery on the abdomen, the risk of complications, such as scar reopening or infection, is higher and, therefore, all the doctor's instructions must be followed for recovery to go smoothly.
Thus, in the first week, you should:
- Sleeping on your back; Do not take off the brace, just to shower Just take off the elastic stockings to take a shower; Take the medicines indicated by the doctor; Move your feet and legs every 2 hours or whenever you remember; Walk with the trunk slightly tilted forward to avoid reopening the stitches; Perform manual lymphatic drainage on alternate days, at least 20 times; Be accompanied by a functional dermatologist for observation of complications or the need for touch-ups that can improve the final appearance.
In addition, the scar should not be touched and if the dressing looks dirty, you should go back to the clinic to change it.
When to drive again
The activities of daily living can be gradually resumed, but it must be done little by little, always breathing the limit of pain, being advised to avoid stretching the abdomen too much and not to make efforts. Therefore, you should only drive after 20 days and when you feel safe.
Long distances should be avoided and, if possible, postponed driving to 30 days after surgery.
When you get back to work
The person can return to work, if he does not have to stand for a long time and if he does not have to do vigorous exercises, in about 10 days to 15 days after the surgery.
When to go back to the gym
The return to physical exercise should happen about 2 months later, with very light exercises and always accompanied by the physical educator. Abdominal exercises should preferably only be performed after 60 days and if there have been no complications such as opening the stitches or infection.
Initially aerobic exercises such as riding a bicycle, for example, are recommended.
Warning signs
It is important to go back to the doctor if you observe:
- Dressing very dirty with blood or other liquids; Scar opening; Fever; Scar spot becoming very swollen and with fluid; Exaggerated pain.
The doctor can observe the points and the results in the postoperative consultations. Sometimes, the body reacts by forming a hardened tissue along the scar, in which case an aesthetic treatment indicated by a specialist physiotherapist can be performed.
