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7 Tips for Your First Shower After Tummy Tuck Surgery

By Kimmers25 on 07 Sep 2010

Tummy Tuck Survival Guide
Part 1: 12 Things I Wish I Knew Before
Part 2: Feelings: Before and After
Part 3: Supplies You Will Need
Part 4: 7 Tips for Showering Post-Op
Part 5: Do's & Dont's After Surgery
Part 6: Funny Things Said During This Process

Take a pain pill 30-60 minutes before the shower. This will help ease some of the pain.
If you can sit while showering please do. A shower chair or something of that sort. It is hard to stand up when you are hunched over with the sore back etc.
Wear that sexy elastic band I told you about for securing the drains. After my hubby put this on me the first time he stood back and said Whoa…SEXY! He was trying to cheer me up but all he did is make me laugh which put me in pain. He then bumped and tugged on one of my drains which hurt. He was a bit like a bull in a china shop with the shower care. He definitely was not use to caring for me in this manner. He did great and we made it through fine.
Have someone there to help you get in and out of the shower and also dry you off. Ok my hubby’s face was priceless as he dried me off. He was so excited about the small flat tummy and the new and lifted Va Jay Jay. He had the look of a cat looking at a can of tuna! Big eyed and pretty happy. I quickly reminded him that the playground was closed for any recess for a while. He knew that but I just wanted to remind him. Poor man; he could dry it off after the shower and look at it but no recess on the playground.
Don’t try to wash your hair while in the shower. It is not easy and seems to hurt for some reason. I had soap in my eyes, my back started to spasm and it was a disaster. Have someone help you wash your hair in the kitchen sink for the first week or so.
Lotion up after the shower. It will make your skin feel amazing after all you have been through.
Now this is the most important step….immediately following the shower go take a two hour nap. Seriously the shower feels great but it wears you out. Can’t explain it but trust me on this one.

I showered the day after surgery and it felt amazing. Don’t be afraid to do it but make sure you have help the first couple of times.

Next: Do's and Don'ts Following Surgery >>

Comments (273)

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Buying me a body 17 May 2013

These tips are amazing. Thank you Kimmers. I'm so clueless and i'm scheduled for Jan 16 2014, but I want to know what I need to be doing and not.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 18 May 2013

You bet girlie!! Well you have an endless supply of support here on RS. We will all help get you through this.

Yvette29 18 Dec 2012

I will be having my TT in 8 days i am so nervous, I feel shortness of breath right now, I am not looking forward to the pain. What did most of you wear around the house, I will be staying at my mother in laws for 5 days then I plan on heading back home which is 2 hours away from where im having procedure done. I have read everyones comments and are very helpful I am making a list for my husband so I can have everything next to me.

missfixit 18 Dec 2012

I read others said they wore button up shirts. I'm going to borrow a couple from my husband. I read another that bought a few pairs of granny panties. Sad to say those are in my underwear drawer already. haha.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Dec 2012

Deep breath girlie!! You will do amazing and remember the pain is temporary. Wear some really comfy and over sized pajamas!!

North Little Rock828 19 Dec 2012

I remember that feeling. It is all worth it though. No joke, it was a rough 4-6 weeks. But, I am SO GLAD I did this for myself. I feel so much better. It's been eleven months, 1-12-12. Get the following: extension cord for phone and laptop so you can sit in the recliner but still be connected to the world, remote control, call in all favors and have friends bring you food, buy the heavy household supplies now like pet food, milk, etc. Keep bottled water and gingerale close to you...and that bottle of happy pills! Stock low-sodium foods because salt will only make the swelling worse. Don't plan on doing anything or being helpful to anyone. Rest, rest, rest. Wear granny panties and PJs that are too big. Be prepared to be a patient. I sat on a pillow for a few weeks in the recliner. The lipo makes you bruise...ouch. On your way home, sit on a pillow in the car. Also, put a pillow between you and the seat belt and drug up before getting in the car. If you could sleep those two hours...it would be ideal!

North Little Rock828 19 Dec 2012

Also, I ate fiber one brownies. They have chicory root in them...that way you won't need a laxative.

Yvette29 20 Dec 2012

Thanks Kimmers25 I will keep a log of my experience and post it when the day comes. Thanks for the support

Yvette29 20 Dec 2012

Thank You Kimmers25 I will keep you posted on my status and thanks for the advice I need all the advice I can get. Thanks to everyone for their support

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 20 Dec 2012

Sounds wonderful:)

missfixit 17 Dec 2012

the playground is closed made me smile...

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Dec 2012

Yeah that playground was totally shut down for construction..good lord it was so swollen.

Mrsfrog 19 Mar 2013

Hi kimmers I m swelling too ,,,, in the playground lol lol. It looks so weird as I've full laser treatment there. I ve the compression stockings on .... What a sexy combo . I put a vest under the binder ... It helps . Defo keeping up with the pain pills ... That's why I m awake at half two lol lol xxxx

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 20 Mar 2013

LOL..oh goodness I can remember the vision of this combo:) So sexy..LOL

No worries everything will go down and heal nicely. But it is crazy looking for sure. Keep up on those pain meds and rest.

xoxo

North Little Rock828 15 Oct 2012

I showered a few days after. I sat in a chair and put the drains in my lap. I had help getting in and out of the shower.

wilbur2012 14 Oct 2012

I was told no shower while drais were in

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 15 Oct 2012

Always follow your doctors instructions! They are all different in the post op instructions but always follow their treatment plan.

I was fortunate and able to shower right away.

Alejandro Enriquez de Rivera, MD 15 Oct 2012

Some people can shower while the drains are in but must use extreme caution as to not step on them while bathing.

View answers from Alejandro Enriquez de Rivera, MD

BonitaApplebaum 26 Mar 2013

Just wash your "cash and prizes" if you have a detachable shower head.

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 27 Mar 2013

LOL...I did the same thing:)

fluffycloud 14 Jun 2012

Oh my goodness, I was hysterical laughing at some of this. I guess it is good to read this BEFORE the tt otherwise it will hurt to laugh that hard. Soooo funny. But still excellent advice. :)

Malibusunshyne 31 Mar 2012

sooo funny

North Little Rock828 3 Jan 2012

I'm having a TT on Jan 12th. I have people lined up to stay with me non stop for a week and a physical therapist and RN friend coming to check on me from time to time. What is the best advise you can give me about my first week at home. I'm doing this outpatient. Thanks

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 3 Jan 2012

It sounds like you have a great plan in place. Having someone with you the first week is excellent. The first seven days are the worst and then things will start to ease up at a slow pace.

My best advice is to let others take care of you!! Rest, medicate and be a good patient the first couple of weeks. Go slow but do get up and walk around. It's good to get some movement and not totally lay in the bed. No marathons though:) This is all temporary and the better you can be to yourself the first six weeks post op the better off you will be. Even if you have a day where you are full of energy please don't push it. If you do you will crash and swell quickly.

Don't forget the Milk of Magnesia!! You do not want to get constipated...trust me on this one.

Stay positive, keep your chin up and know you will heal. Post op blues are normal for some people so if you get weepy don't panic. This will pass and there is nothing wrong.

Basically trust your body and rest when it tells you to do so. You will come through this like a champ if you are a good patient:)

Alejandro Enriquez de Rivera, MD 15 Oct 2012

Take it easy and rest, but make sure you get up and walk as much as your body can stand, even if it's just to go to the bathroom. The more you move, the faster you heal and the less chance you have for clots.

View answers from Alejandro Enriquez de Rivera, MD