Tummy Tuck

• Start walking as soon as possible with assistance the day of surgery, this helps to reduce swelling and lowers the chance of blood clots. Starting the day after surgery, walk 300 feet three times per day with assistance daily.
• Do not drive until you are no longer taking any pain medications (narcotics).
• Do not drive until you have full range of motion in your legs and no discomfort in your abdomen when lifting your legs.
• No lifting greater than 5 lbs. for six weeks. Avoid straining of abdominal muscles, strenuous exercise and activities are restricted for 6 weeks.
• Sexual activity can be resumed in two weeks unless otherwise specified by Dr. Bindingnavele.

• You may shower 48 hours after surgery.
• Keep steri-strips on, and replace if they come off. Keep incisions clean and inspect daily for sign of infection. No tub soaking while sutures or drains are in place.
• Place daily soft dressing over incisions and around drain sites to wick away moisture and prevent irritation by garment along the incision line.
• Wear compression garment all the time (24/7) for six weeks postoperatively.
• Sleep with back elevated (a recliner works very well) and four pillows under your knees to decrease tension on your incision.

• You may experience temporary pain, soreness, numbness of abdominal skin, incision discomfort.
• Maximum discomfort will occur the first few days.
• You will have bruising and swelling of the abdomen. The majority of bruising and swelling will subside in 6-8 weeks.
• You may feel tired for several weeks or months.

• Flatter, firmer abdomen with narrower waistline.
• You will walk slightly bent forward and gradually return to normal posture over the next 3 weeks.
• Scars will be reddened looking for six months. In time, these usually soften and fade.
• Please start using your silicone (as given to you) four weeks after surgery or as instructed by Dr. Bindingnavele. Use silicone for twelve hours daily for 4-6 months.
• Avoid exposure of scar to sunlight for 6-12 months. If unavoidable, use sunblock (SPF 30 or greater) with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.
• Massage scars ten minutes at a time, three times daily while using silicone strips.

• Empty drain bulb 3 times a day and record outputs in mL (milliliters) noting time of day and drain amount. Make sure to record each drain’s output separately.
• It is normal for drain outputs to vary and for clots to be in tube and bulb.
• Do not disconnect bulb from tube.
• Do not push in or pull on the drain tube at its entrance on the skin.
• See additional attachment for more instructions and additional drain log.

• Your post-operative appointment will be scheduled before surgery for your convenience.

• If you have increased swelling or bruising.
• If swelling and redness persist after a few days.
• If you have increased redness along the incision.
• If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication.
• If you have any side effects such as rash, nausea, headache, or vomiting.
• If you have an oral temperature over 100.4 degrees.
• If you have yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor.
• If you have bleeding from the incisions that is difficult to control with light pressure.
• If you have loss of feeling or motion.

The exact cost of a tummy tuck procedure will depend on the severity of your condition and several other factors. During your consultation, your surgeon will evaluate you and your desires to help determine the cost of your procedure.

The incision for tummy tuck surgery is strategically placed along the lower abdomen so that the resulting scar can easily be hidden beneath undergarments and bathing suits. Your scar will continue to improve and fade over time, and protecting it from the sun will help prevent it from darkening.

The incision for tummy tuck surgery is strategically placed along the lower abdomen so that the resulting scar can easily be hidden beneath undergarments and bathing suits. Your scar will continue to improve and fade over time, and protecting it from the sun will help prevent it from darkening.

Candidates for tummy tuck surgery desire to craft sculpted abdominal contours after pregnancy, weight loss, or aging. These candidates should not smoke, be in good overall health, and have realistic expectations of their results. Men and women who are obese or have pre-existing medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, may not be appropriate candidates for tummy tuck surgery.

Liposuction surgery, even 360 liposuction, targets excess fat on and around the abdomen. While these procedures create slimmer and more sculpted contours, they cannot target skin or muscle laxity. If you have loose skin or separated abdominal muscles (diastasis recti), liposuction alone will not provide optimal results. Only tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty will remove excess skin and tighten abdominal muscles.

Tummy tuck surgery is not a weight-loss surgery like gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery. This procedure is a body contouring surgery that targets excess skin, fat deposits, and weakened abdominal muscles. Therefore, you should not expect to lose weight following a tummy tuck. While you will notice a significantly slimmer contour (from removing excess skin and fat deposits), you will not lose a lot of pounds. Tummy tuck surgery is not an alternative to a healthy lifestyle and should not be considered for weight loss purposes.

Tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty will not interfere with your ability to get pregnant or carry your baby. While we often recommend that women wait for their tummy tuck surgery until having had their children, we do this purely for aesthetic reasons. Most women consider tummy tuck surgery following the rigors of childbirth, and an additional pregnancy can negate the results achieved through your tummy tuck. It is best to wait until you are sure that you will not get pregnant to maintain your results.

A tummy tuck typically takes between 2 to 3 hours, depending on the extent of the surgery.

Yes, a tummy tuck can often revise or remove C-section scars by excising the scar tissue along with excess skin, creating a new, lower scar that is generally smoother and easier to conceal.