If you are considering going under the knife to get rid of sagging skin or to flatten your tummy, you should take the time to read about what you are getting into. Many people do not consider plastic surgery as a major surgery, and that isn’t the right mindset at all. In fact, any medical procedure where you go under anesthesia is considered a major procedure and should not be taken lightly. When going for your consultation, always make sure to never leave any question unanswered, despite how silly you may think it sounds. Your potential surgeon should understand you want to cover all bases.
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Before you go in for your consultation, here are six tummy tuck facts to know:
- The healing process is long and you will need help. During the first few to several days after your procedure, you will need help to get dressed, move around, and possibly even eat. You will need to enlist your partner, children, or friends to help you out during this period. During this time you should also focus on healing and caring for yourself rather than stress about other chores or tasks that need to be done. You will be able to do little or nothing for the first two weeks of your healing.
- You will feel tired even after the majority of the healing has occurred. If you think about it, you have done a traumatic thing to your body and regardless of how your tummy tuck looks, your body will take a long time to recover. So even when you are back at your job, you may feel tired and lethargic and that is completely normal. If possible, try and allow the minimum of six weeks off of work.
- What you eat counts. Getting important nutrients and vitamins are very important during this time period. These nutrients will not only help you to feel better, they will also aid the body in the healing process. So make sure to have a well-balanced diet that included fresh vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
- Your tummy tuck will fully heal in about a year or a little more. It can and will take a long time for your body to heal. Most tummy tucks take a full year for the swelling to go down and for the scar tissue to fade so don’t get too worried if you notice fluctuations in how your scar looks during the healing time period.
- Tummy tucks are not the answer to weight loss. Some people believe a tummy tuck can be a quick fix to lose weight. If you believe that, then a tummy tuck is not for you. Having this surgery is great for those who have lost a lot of weight and want to remove any excess or stretched out skin to reveal a flatter, smoother, stomach.
- There are different types of tummy tucks. Your surgery will be tailored to you; there is no cookie cutter procedure. Speak and consult with your surgeon to decide which one will be the best option for you.
