Surgery of the Abdomen

How will I look and feel right after surgery?

When surgery is complete, you'll be taken to a recovery area. In many cases, small drainage tubes will have been placed beneath the skin to help prevent fluids from accumulating. Any discomfort you may feel can be controlled with medication prescribed by your plastic surgeon. Dressings may be applied to your abdomen and covered with tape or an elastic bandage.

Although you may not be able to stand perfectly straight at first, you will be encouraged to get out of bed soon after surgery to promote blood circulation. In this early phase of healing, straining, bending, and lifting, should be avoided. Your surgeon may instruct you to sleep on your back with your knees up.

Although everyone heals at a different rate, you can expect that your recovery will follow this general time line:

Within the first week

  • surgical drainage tubes will be removed
  • stitches will be removed (may take 10 days)
  • bruising and swelling will reach its peak.

After several weeks

  • you will no longer need to wear the support garment
  • you may gradually increase your activity and exercise
  • you may return to nonstrenuous work (typically within the first 3 weeks)
  • bruising and swelling will continue to subside and you'll begin to see your results.

After a few months

  • you'll see a truer picture of the final result of your surgery
  • feelings of numbness or tightness will disappear. Your incision line may begin to fade from its reddish color (full fading may take a year or more)

in the months following surgery, it's important to treat your healing skin with extra care, that means avoiding sun exposure and not wearing black or other dark colors when you are outdoors. Heat absorbed by dark-colored clothing can actually burn your healing skin and complicate recovery.

prev < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 > next