Supplies You Need After Tummy Tuck Surgery

Here are my suggestions for things you'll need after tummy tuck surgery:

• Tylenol

• Your prescribed pain medications.

• Palmer’s Vitamin E Skin Therapy Oil.

• Gauze pads or some sort of soft bandages for your incision.

• About 7 pair of cotton granny panties. Don’t spend a ton of money on these because you will most likely toss them after you have healed. They are comfortable and you will be oozing and leaking for a while.

• Milk of Magnesia or stool softener.

• Fresh fruits and veggies, lean protein and protein shakes. You will want to eat really healthy after surgery. This will help your healing process.

• Magazines for reading when you are not sleeping from the drug induced coma.

• A person to stay with you for at least the first 3-4 days. You are going to need help so just surrender.

• If you have small children make sure you have someone to take care of them as well.

• An elastic exercise band. The type they use in PT for therapy. It looks like a big rubber band. You will need this for showering while you have your drains in place. Put it around your neck, tie loosely and safety pin the drains to it. I found this the easiest way to control the placement while I showered. And did I mention what a sexy look this is! Picture this….you are standing in your bathroom naked, swollen belly hips and thighs, lime green elastic band around your neck, drains hanging from your body, things oozing from many areas on your body, your hair a total mess from laying in a bed for a few days and puffy eyes from who knows what! But this shower you are about to take is going to feel so amazing. More on that later.

• Ice packs. I found these helped my lower back that was so sore from being hunched over.

• This is the most important to me….rent a hospital bed for the first two weeks following surgery. This was a life saver for me. There is no way I would have been able to get in and out of bed without the power operated assistance. Plus you can elevate your legs and position just right. Just call a local medical supply company and they will deliver, set up and pic up when you are done. Mine also came with the sheets, waffle pad and a very soft fleece pad. Oh it was so comfy. I had it set up in my living room which is bright and cheerful. I didn’t want to be stuck up in the bedroom all alone for the first couple of weeks. I wanted to be in the middle of all the family craziness. It was great because I was close to the kitchen, bathroom and had everything right at hand.
 

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