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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
  1. Take a pain pill 30-60 minutes before the shower. This will help ease some of the pain.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. Lotion up after the shower. It will make your skin feel amazing after all you have been through.
  7. 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 (247)

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Sharon at RealSelf (Community Manager) 17 Sep 2010

Kimmers, this is so hilarious. You had me cracking up through the whole guide but this page is the best and also really, really helpful). Your poor hubby! :o)

Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 17 Sep 2010
I am glad you enjoyed it!! Welcome to my crazy life in a nutshell! Seriously though he makes me laugh on a daily basis and was an excellent nurse! He is a good sport :)
debi'stime 30 Sep 2010
OMG I am laughing so hard - thanks for the humor!
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 30 Sep 2010
Just stick with me and I will get you through all of the nerves you are feeling. LOL...
spinmama 15 Dec 2010
do I really need to shower? Just kidding...but Im thinking how soon? I'll just sit and be in pain and try not to move much:)
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 16 Dec 2010

Take the shower as soon as you can.  It will make you feel so much better.  Make sure to have someone to help you though.  I took my first shower the day after surgery and so glad I did. 

It will wear you out but then you can always take the two hour nap. 
Kanajune 18 Dec 2010
I am just sneaking up on the idea of a shower....maybe tonight!
Boyfriend and me did manage to give me a shot of anti-clot....piece of cake!

Now if I could only pee!

Oh, I did creep downstairs to weigh myself....looks like about 7 pounds,
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 18 Dec 2010

Nice - seven pounds already!!  WOW  

I am glad the shot thing is easy for you.  I was pretty sure you would be able to do it.  But you are right...the thought of injecting yourself is awful. I guess we would make terrible junkies!!!   LOL

Do take that shower.  It will relax you and make you feel wonderful.  Well it will probably wipe you out but that is ok.  Just medicate and sleep :) 

The shower may even help you pee.  I remember after I had my son my bladder would not work for the first four days.  Seemed the only time I could go was when I was standing in the warm shower.  Hey whatever works.
Kanajune 18 Dec 2010
yep, tomorrow will be a shower! The nausea is terrible and the pain pills make it worse. But milk creates mucus which makes me cough. Ant suggestions? Am chewing on Tums right now, seems to help a little.

GLAD you are there!\\jUNE
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 18 Dec 2010

Oh June I am so sorry!!   Yikes when it rains it really rains.  There is a green Tea called Moroccan mint made by Stash.  You can get it in either decaf or reg.  I just buy it in my local grocery store in the coffee and tea section.  It is wonderful for an upset tummy and nausea.  It tastes really good and is soothing to both the tummy and throat.  It may even help with some of the mucus. 

The tums are also good but the tea will be really soothing.  You can also put a little sweetener in it if you like it that way. 

My gramma use to heat up honey, lemon and brandy for the mucus.  Personally I think it just made us pass out and forget about the problem...LOL

I hope this passes quickly for you :)  

I know you will enjoy the shower.  It will make you feel like a new woman.  Let me know how you are doing tomorrow.

XXXOOO
Kanajune 19 Dec 2010
It just keeps getting weirder and weirder. I have been using many pillows on my queen bed and that was working well. Tonight that started becoming painful, sorta like heavy heartburn. So I then tried laying flat on my side and that felt heavenly, for a while. Then that became excruciating, so here I am at 2AM, looking for ideas. But all in all, I feel pretty good but I am getting awfully tired. I am peeing now, and the nausea is under control. Help, I am out of ideas.

June
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 19 Dec 2010

Hi June,

Oh my goodness!!!   How are you feeling now?  Did the heartburn settle down?   If that continues give your doctor a call and see if there is something stronger he can prescribe.  You need some relief from that :)

I can remember tossing and turning in bed trying to find that "just so" position.  It could about drive you nuts.  Do you have one of those foam waffle mattress covers?  Those also give you a little extra cushion.  I am sorry you are having such a rough time but I promise it will get better.  You are in the worst possible stage ever. 

I hope you are feeling better tonight?????  Please let me know.
Kanajune 19 Dec 2010
Better, yes. Still a lot of pain but improving every little nap. Nausea is gone and I all systems are now GO.

I love the SED machine (to stimulate the legs. It simply feels wonderful, like 24 hr massage.

Randy has been giving me those shots daily, too.

So I think the worst is behind me (I sure hope so!)
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 20 Dec 2010

Hey June...this is wonderful news!   All up hill now :)
Kanajune 20 Dec 2010
I can't wait for 3 weeks,it sounds like such a milepost.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 20 Dec 2010

Yes that is a big turning point...just wait you will see!
mommy41 14 Jan 2011
Kanajune-i am getting a tt on February 24th and I have been reading a lot about what to expect and I am worried about blood clots. It that protocol to get shots before and after or do you have a condition that you are prone to blood clots because I did ask my doctor and he said not necessary. Also, should I have an EKG the PS said not necessary but I read that it is better to get one.
spinmama 14 Jan 2011
Hey ladies....new question. Im trying to plan spring break for the fam...do you think I'll be up for river rafting at 9 weeks post op?
Hubby is taking 12 days off work to help me...looks like Im doing it:) yeah!! Feb 10th is the day. Im so excited and scared. I would have never had the never to go through with it if it wasnt for all of you!
Kanajune 14 Jan 2011
Spin; I would ask your doctor, but the shape you are in, I would think you could do it!
Kanajune 14 Jan 2011
I was planning on a week in Mazaltlan and some Marlin fishing in April......lets see, that would be 4 months post op.......I think I can do it! Might need a little help if I snag a really big one.
Kanajune 14 Jan 2011
Thats good news, did your hubby get over his reservations? You will love him even more for this but, remember, he is only a man.......you must ASK sometimes for what you need. Randy would set the alarm every 2 hours to give me meds, but forget to bring food, I finally had to tell him. Don't be shy; men, bless their hearts, are definitely not very intuitive nor mind-readers (most men, anyway)

Poor Randy, now that I was almost over the TT and lipo, now he has me to care for again with my sialadenitis. That will go fast, though. Maybe I should keep this one around, eh?
Country Gal 14 Jan 2011
spin - I'm glad you're going ahead with it.

I'd be leery about the rafting, but check with your PS. Depending upon the river, it can be pretty bouncy in the rapids. When we went summer before last, I was the only one to go overboard. It wasn't scary, but you may not want to be in the freezing water, kicking and swimming.
Kimmers25 (Community Manager) 15 Jan 2011

Hi spinmama,

From my experience I would say that 9 weeks is a little soon for river rafting but check with your doctor.  You are pretty much just going to have to see how your body feels.  You will know what hurts and what doesn't. 

I had my surgery in mid April and my doc would not let me do much on my July vacation.  No diving, rock climbing, para sailing or mountain biking.   Actually I was still to sore to do any of that so it was fine.  I sat on the beach and drank rum punch for 8 days.
mommy41 15 Jan 2011
good luck to you. I am scheduled for Feb 24th and very scared. I read your prior posts and my husband wasn't for this and still isn't but this is for me. Let me know how you make out
Kanajune 14 Jan 2011
Oh, for me it was because of my age....59. I guess post-menopausal women are more prone to clots. Also, my family history has lots of strokes in it.

How old are you? Your PS probably is basing his advice upon your age and personal history.

As to the blood clots, try to get up every hour the days after surgery and walk just a little. It is being still too long that can create a clot in an otherwise healthy person. They put me in a leg stimulator thing that I just loved....all night long I got wonderful leg massage! Much more reliable than my massage therapist boyfriend. I wish I could have kept that machine.

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