Tummy tuck preparation begins with you, the patient.
While we will certainly supply you with all the information you need for a safe and smooth procedure and carefree recovery, it’s also important that you do your research and make the appropriate arrangements ahead of time so that your recovery period is comfortable, effective, and hopefully even pleasant!
Here is a quick tummy tuck surgery preparation list to get you started.
Preparation for Tummy Tuck: Our Top 10 Tips
Tummy tuck surgery is a routine cosmetic surgery with consistently successful outcomes. Excess skin is removed, the muscles of your abdominal wall are tightened, liposuction is used to suction out excess fat, and the midsection as a whole is smoothed and evened out.
With that said, it’s important that patients be physically and mentally prepared for their tummy tuck procedure and the tummy tuck recovery period. Here’s what to think about while considering your pre surgery checklist:
1. Do your research. Understand your own surgical procedure.
One of the best ways to prepare for a tummy tuck is to simply know what will be involved in your surgery. Most tummy tucks involve removing excess skin, repairing separated abdominal muscles, a bit of liposuction, and smoothing.
The best tummy tuck surgeons are grateful when you ask questions, so never hesitate to inquire about the details of your plastic surgery procedure.
2. Eat a healthy diet, and stay hydrated.
Before any type of major surgery, you should be taking great care of your body and living a healthy lifestyle. This means eating a diet that is full of protein, healthy fats, whole grains, veggies, and fruits.
You also want to stay at a stable weight and avoid significant weight loss or weight gain. A well-balanced nutritious diet can help with this.
Finally, drink plenty of water every day. It’s important to be hydrated before surgery, and this will also help keep your digestive system on track as you approach the sedentary recovery period.
3. Stay physically active.
Along with eating a nutritious diet, be sure to stay active with daily exercise. Even just taking a short walk every day can help keep your endurance and strength up. Studies show that those who have good exercise habits prior to surgery have fewer post surgery complications.
4. Reinforce healthy sleep habits.
Sleep is just as important before surgery as it is after surgery. Make sure you are getting seven to nine hours every night, and make it quality sleep. Ideally, keep your phone (and screens in general) out of the bedroom, and try to create a comfortable, quiet atmosphere without distractions.
Sleep is when your body and mind are able to rejuvenate, heal, and prepare for the next day. You need proper sleep to heal successfully from tummy tuck surgery and achieve great results.
5. Quit smoking if necessary.
Smoking can put you at risk of complications during and after surgery. If you are a smoker, quitting for good can help your health and wellbeing in many ways. At the very least, you must quit for a period both before and after your operation in order to qualify for surgery.
6. Manage your stress.
Many people don’t notice that stress and anxiety builds up in them as they approach surgery. This can not only make managing other areas of life more difficult (sleep, work-life balance, eating right, exercising, avoiding smoking, etc.), but it can also compromise one’s overall health. Studies show that stress puts pressure on the immune system and can actually weaken it.
Try to find healthy ways to deal with stress before surgery. Walking, journaling, talking with friends, sleeping, and meditation are all good places to start.
7. Pick up your medications ahead of time.
Most tummy tuck patients will be prescribed a pain medication and an antibiotic to prevent complications associated with infection. To avoid having to pick these up when you are uncomfortable and feeling stiff and tired, be sure to get these before surgery.
Having ice packs prepared can also aid in pain relief once at home. Certain medications such as anti inflammatory drugs are usually avoided both prior to and following surgery.
8. Take the appropriate amount of time off work (or school).
Be sure that you know how much time you should be taking off from work or school. Your surgeon can help with this as every patient’s situation will be different based on their surgery and their line of work.
9. Arrange for at-home support.
Most tummy tuck patients do need some help at home following surgery. To start with, you’ll need to ask a close and trusted friend or a close family member if they can drive you home from your surgery.
After that, you may also need some assistance at home — over the first few days, especially. Often, patients will enlist several friends or family members to tag team this assistance so that they have plenty of help throughout each day.
10. Plan on keeping track of your tummy tuck results.
Tracking your results as you heal is a great way to keep up your motivation and not lose sight of why you got this surgery in the first place. We recommend taking pictures and even journaling as you heal. Day by day, you should start seeing your results more clearly.
FAQ: Tummy Tuck Surgery
Do I have to quit smoking before a tummy tuck?
Yes, in preparation for a tummy tuck, anyone who smokes will need to stop smoking for at least several weeks. Talk to your surgeon about the exact timeframe. You will also need to stop smoking during your recovery period.
Can a tummy tuck be covered by insurance?
A tummy tuck is an elective cosmetic surgery, and insurance does not cover elective surgeries as a rule. So no, unless your tummy tuck is medically necessary, which is rare, health insurance will not provide coverage. Your surgeon will have discussed all factors relating to tummy tuck cost during your initial consultation.
Arrange a Consultation with Dr. Steinberg
Ready to learn more about tummy tuck surgery and find out if you’re a good candidate?
Call today to arrange for a consultation appointment with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Ashley Steinberg. We look forward to hearing from you!
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/video-gallery/ps-snippets-tummy-tuck
