Tummy tuck preparation begins and ends with you — the patient! While your chosen plastic surgeon is naturally going to be critical to the success of your surgical procedure, it’s also important that you be prepared for both the surgery itself and your recovery.
As you approach tummy tuck surgery, we invite you to browse the following list of key tummy tuck preparation tips. Use these tips to help you better prepare for your procedure and ensure excellent results.
Tummy Tuck Preparation List
1. Quit smoking.
Smoking may not only put you in danger during surgery, but it can also complicate your recovery and hinder your tummy tuck results. Smokers have a higher risk of experiencing a stroke or heart attack during surgery and may also encounter other complications.
During recovery, your blood flow will be decreased if you smoke. This can make it difficult for your wounds to properly heal and may increase your likelihood of developing an infection as well.
Most surgeons will ask that you stop smoking at least several weeks prior to surgery and for several weeks after surgery. Of course, it’s always best to stop smoking completely.
2. Prepare your home.
Abdominoplasty surgery procedures are hard on the body, and you won’t be able to run errands, work, or do any major cooking or cleaning as you heal. If you have pets or children, you will also need help caring for them because you cannot lift anything heavy or run around after little ones when you are recovering.
For this reason, at home, make sure you have all you’ll need to recover properly and comfortably. On your pre surgery checklist should be shopping for items like healthy snacks, bottled water, comfortable recovery pillows, easy to put on and take off clothes, ice packs, and other conveniences that will make recovery easier.
3. Maintain a healthy diet.
Eating a varied, nutritious diet will help ensure you are strong and healthy prior to surgery. Likewise, it will set you up for success following your tummy tuck procedure as it will be more likely that you continue with a healthy diet as you recover.
Eating healthy is also important for maintaining a stable weight and avoiding weight gain. Although you may have some additional liposuction to remove extra fat, a tummy tuck surgery primarily removes excess skin. Being overweight or obese prior to your operation may preclude you from surgery.
4. Talk to your surgeon about adjusting your medications.
Certain medications and supplements such as aspirin and fish oil can cause complications during surgery or make recovery more difficult. Be sure to disclose to your surgeon all of the meds and vitamins you are currently taking so that they can determine what’s safe to continue taking as you approach your operation.
This includes everything from prescription medications to occasional pain meds (ibuprofen, aspirin, etc.), diet pills, supplements, vitamins, and anything else.
5. Pick up your pain medication and other prescriptions.
We advise picking up your pain medications before your surgery as it may be a challenge to go to the pharmacy for them once you are in recovery. Discuss with your surgeon whether these will be made available beforehand.
6. Prepare yourself mentally.
Tummy tuck cosmetic surgery is major surgery. It will require at least one significant incision, it will tighten your abdominal muscles, and it will excise your excess skin.
This plastic surgery procedure is hard on the body and requires a substantial amount of healing before you will feel like yourself again. Although you should feel much better after just a few days, it’s also important that you are mentally prepared for what lies ahead during your recovery.
Research past patients’ recovery experiences to understand about the worst days after tummy tuck surgery. Talk to your surgeon. Ask questions. Make sure you are prepared mentally just as much as you are prepared physically.
7. Ask for help.
You’ll want to have at least a few friends or family members in the wings if you need help as you recover. Be sure to check with these individuals beforehand so that they are aware you may need assistance.
Also remember that you’ll definitely need someone to take you home after your operation. After the general anesthesia and due to the nature of tummy tuck surgery, you will not be in shape to drive following your procedure.
FAQ: Preparation for a Tummy Tuck
What not to do before a tummy tuck?
As you prepare for a tummy tuck, be sure not to smoke or drink alcohol to excess. Also, pay attention to what you eat, avoiding excess sugar, salt, and fried foods.
And finally, don’t over-strain your body with exercise or other physical activities. While it’s good to exercise regularly leading right up to surgery, you certainly want to avoid injuring yourself or straining your body too much because you’ll need your strength during recovery.
Should I get a tummy tuck or liposuction?
Both abdominal liposuction and a tummy tuck can improve the appearance of your abdomen. With that said, the two surgeries are actually used in very different situations. First, liposuction removes excess fat from the abdomen (or elsewhere). On the other hand, a tummy tuck removes excess skin on the abdomen (while tightening the ab muscles).
If you have questions about which surgery is right for you, schedule a consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Charles Galanis to be assessed and learn more.
Call to Arrange a Consultation with Dr. Galanis
You could be a good tummy tuck candidate if you have loose skin, separated abdominal wall muscles, and a “pouch” on your abdomen that you would like to get rid of, a tummy tuck can help by removing excess skin, tightening the abdominal muscles, and using liposuction to get rid of excess fat.
Tummy tucks offer some of the most significant transformations plastic surgeons can offer. They are especially helpful for patients who have gone through a significant weight loss and moms who are done having children.
Interested in transforming your body with a tummy tuck? Contact Galanis Plastic Surgery today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Charles Galanis and learn more about preparation for tummy tuck procedures.
