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Tips and Tricks to Tummy Tucks

Tips and Tricks to Tummy Tucks

Every day people go in for their first tummy tuck not knowing what to expect. Because many people are under prepared for the post-operative limitations that a tummy tuck can place on the body, they experience unnecessary amounts of discomfort. But a little preparation can go a long way to making your tummy tuck a more enjoyable experience and that’s why we put together this list of tips and tricks to get ready for your tummy tuck procedure and recovery.

Preoperative Preparation

Most surgical procedures place a large amount of stress on your body. This stress is can be worsened if your body isn’t taken care of before and after the procedure leading to a longer recovery time. Make a point of taking care of your body leading up to your tummy tuck procedure. By following some of these tips you can make your tummy tuck recovery a much easier process.

Get your body in peak physical condition

While you don’t have to be the world’s fittest person to get a tummy tuck, preparing your body by eating healthy and exercising will help you to maintain your weight and build strength that you’ll need during your recovery. Receiving all the proper nutrients that your body needs will give you more energy and give your body the fuel it needs to heal properly and quickly.

Prepare for post-operation

After your operation you will need to take at least two weeks off from activities of daily living. This means that you will need to take off from work and organize a group of family and friends to help you make it through your recovery and if you have children then you should start thinking about arranging childcare. Also, make sure to prepare your home prior to your procedure. Make sure that you have plenty of loose clothes that are easy to put on and take off. Set up your “recovery station” by making sure your couch and bed have plenty of pillows and entertainment options that are easily accessible. Take this time to sit back, relax, and let your body heal.

Quit smoking!

If you’re a smoker then you’ve probably heard this a thousand times from your physicians but the cessation of prior to your procedure can have many benefits. Smoking will increase your recovery period and the risk of complications with your procedure. This is why we recommend that you stop smoking three months prior to your procedure. Once you are able to experience the results of your tummy tuck you’ll be happy you did it.

Ask your doctor about your current medications

Make sure that you have a list of current medications that you are on. During your preoperative consultation, your physician will go over these with you and give you instructions on which medications you should stop taking prior to your surgery.

Insider Tips and Tricks

You’ve prepared as best you can for your first tummy tuck but you still don’t know if any “curve balls” are going to be thrown at you during recovery. Don’t worry, we asked patients and doctors who have seen and experienced the recovery process to come up with these tricks to the tummy tuck.

Stock up before your surgery

Make sure to get all the essentials before your surgery date. Filling your prescriptions, meal prepping, buying extra gauze, wraps, and other essentials will save you trips to the store and a lot of frustration. It’s best that you don’t drive following your surgery anyway so get it out of the way ahead of time.

Save your stretchy pants

You might want to hold onto your old clothes and not throw them out just yet. A tummy tuck will have you fitting into tighter clothes but you’ll have to wait a few weeks to trade in the larger sizes for smaller ones. After your procedure your body is going to experience some swelling around your belly, which is totally normal. So just be patient and wait a few weeks before switching out your sweatpants for a cocktail dress.

Try not to laugh

While remaining in high spirits and having a good sense of humor are important for psychological health and can also have a big impact on physical health, you won’t want to be having any big belly laughs after this procedure. Your abdomen will be pretty sore for a while after your surgery so laughing, coughing, yelling, or other such activities can cause a lot of discomfort post tummy tuck. So maybe take your favorite comedy off your recovery movie list and give your belly a break.

Enlist help

Walking can be good to keep blood flowing to your muscles and to reduce the chance of blood clots but you probably shouldn’t do much more. Reaching up to grab things and bending over are out of the question for the first week or two of recovery. To prevent the need to do activities involving these movements and potentially harming your results, ask friends and family to help take care of daily activities for a couple of weeks. If you are having trouble finding people to help or are uncomfortable asking friends to make such a big commitment, then try hiring a helper to assist you during this time.

Tummy Tucks for Men

Our greatest and final tip for tummy tucks is that this procedure is not only for women. Tummy tucks are a very common procedure among men. Because of genetic differences between sexes men have a higher likelihood of putting on weight around their stomachs. When men put on weight and then lose it they are left with extra skin around their abdomen and turn to tummy tucks to fix it.

Tummy Tucks in Naples, Florida

With summer around the bend, there’s no better way to get your body into shape than with a tummy tuck at Gardner Plastic Surgery. Give your body the TLC it deserves with our advanced cosmetic technology treatments at Gardner Plastic Surgery located in Naples, Florida! Discover a new you, come and see what makes us one of the finest plastic surgery centers in Naples, FL. To learn more, please schedule a consultation with us today.

Naples Plastic Surgey is Proud to Serve Patients from Naples, Bonita Springs, Estero, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and All Over the Country!

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At Naples Plastic Surgery, our cosmetic services are designed to contour and enhance your body to help you achieve the body image that you desire. Known for offering among the best facial plastic surgery in Naples, our board-certified surgeons are known as much for their artistry as they are for their surgical skills. We understand that your image is the key to feeling great, so we will provide you with the most reliable advice and services to help make you look and feel your best.

The surgical team at Naples Plastic Surgery has the training and experience necessary to help you pursue your own individual cosmetic goals down to the very last detail, all in a warm, comfortable, and private environment.

Dr. Paul Gardner, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Southwest Florida. As one of the leading plastic surgeons in Naples, FL, Dr. Gardner has more than 25 years of experience performing facial procedures including composite facelift, mini facelift, brow lift and skin cancer removal procedures. He also possesses expertise in breast augmentations, tummy tucks, and labiaplasty.

Dr. Leopoldo M. Baccaro, MD received extensive training at the prestigious Houston Methodist Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, where he worked with some of the most well-renowned practitioners in the art of cosmetic surgery. With honors and awards throughout medical school and his residency, Dr. Baccaro earned a stellar reputation for high quality surgical care with both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery procedures.

Dr. Mark Walsh, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon serving Southwest Florida. Dr. Walsh participated in the prestigious plastic surgery training program at Duke University. He has also served as an invited reviewer and has provided expert commentaries for multiple surgical journals, including the highly regarded Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

Dr. Andrew M. Bonett, MD specializes in both reconstructive and cosmetic plastic surgery, with specific interests in reconstruction after breast and skin cancers, including Mohs reconstruction. His experience also includes reconstruction following traumatic injuries, body contouring, and general cosmetic plastic surgery procedures.

The plastic surgery process at Naples Plastic Surgery begins with a one-on-one, confidential consultation in which your surgeon conducts an examination to determine which procedures are likely to produce the most robust aesthetic improvements. This includes a comprehensive discussion with you to identify the benefits, risks and costs associated with each procedure. It may be possible to combine a number of surgical procedures into a single surgery if you desire and if your medical condition permits it.

As with any medical procedure, there is no guarantee that a desired outcome will be achieved. There are a number of health risks associated with even minor medical procedures. If you have any health issues or concerns, please feel free to discuss them any time with your surgeon at our Naples’ plastic surgery center.
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