Any tips to speed up tummy tuck recovery?

Hi, I'm 55 and 11 days post op. I'm 5"7 and before surgery 130lbs and in addition to going to the gym three times a week did kickboxing, yoga and core ball workout. The surgery kicked my butt the first week. I stopped all pain meds, tylenol, etc. On day 4 and no from day 7 on each day has gotten better. I word lose jersey dresses and no panties. It was just easier than fruit.g to get pants on and off. I also took Arnica and bromelain and because I had no lipo my doctor (who has extensive experience and wonderful) said no compression garments and at first I thought it would give me more support but on day 11 I feel great, my stomach although feeling bloated is tiny and flat. An achy back from walking bent over, and the rest drains were the worst of it. You're going to be uncomfortable and happy one minute a.d questioning what you did the next. It's a major surgery and evev though my scar stops before my hip and right above the pubic line and I'm thrilled with it it(s not pretty right now but can only get better and the tummy is flat and belly button is really cute. I also did not have any bandages on my scar... Just internal stitches and a colored and clear glue which allowed keying showed almost immediately. I started with 3 colace a day after surgery and on the 3rd day took a 1/2 dose of MOM and have been regular from day 4 on. Everyone will have there own unique journey but don't think, worry or anticipate too much just take really good care of yourself and do as instructed and by day 10 you'll feel so much better. Hope this helps..

Very encouraging - thanks! My big day is this Friday!

So, higher waist is more practical than pants at the hip, how most yoga pants are. The "two panties" trick is a great idea! I found a couple of pair of scrub pants at a thrift shop...I figured I can wear those with a t-shirt if I had to go anywhere...it'd look better than (my husband's pet peever) pajama pants in public :) Thanks, Little Rock!

lol

How are you?

I am doing pretty good. Had my TT & flank lipo on Friday. I started wearing a CG on Monday and it feels really good - sort of comforting. I think PS will remove drains tomorrow. My appetite is returning but I feel "guilty" for eating since I'm not exercising...don't want to add back fat...but I know I must find a balance there. I never realized how much I used my stomach muscles to blow my nose! lol. I see what everyone means now, about the swelling. It's a long-term issue and I must deal with it mentally, as well as physically.

belle - my ps recommended protein shakes and drinks since they are high in protein and low in calories. Also, I like being able to sip over time and not be full at once. Sounds like you are preparing yourself for the long term recovery that is involved. The swelling will peak in a few weeks and then subside gradually. It's bothersome and sometime discouraging. But, when I look down my "swollen" tummy is sooooo much smaller than it ever was that I have to just smile! best of wishes for a continued good recovery. ps- getting drains out will make you feel so much better too.

I will ask him about those protein shakes/drinks tomorrow! It is good to hear that the swelling peaks if a few weeks - that is very encouraging and hopeful. Right now of course, I 'm not even standing up straight so it's hard to really see results. I do see the love handles gone though. It really itches where he lipo'd me there! Thanks, rjmom.

Are you walking straight yet? I am 5 days post TT.

I found that avoiding pants at all as much as possible was best for me when drains were in place. I wore night shirts or loose sundresses. My drains were uncomfortable with any movement and underwear needed to have LOOSE leg openings, waist didn't matter much because of compression garment. I liked scrub pants after drains were removed as I could adjust exactly to my comfort day to day.

How are you doing now? I am 2 weeks post op today and will return to work on Monday.

Pj pants from Old Navy have been perfect.

Yoga pants were uncomfortable due to lipo.

Last week I tried on my daughter's yoga pants and promptly took them off. They (my 17 year old twins) have perfect pajama pants though, which I now wear.

I preferred yoga pants...... But then again... I wear scrubs all day when I'm at work....

For recovering time I used a pj top with buttons only clipped the drains s to the bottom. This way the is nothing around your waist. My underwear was very low.

I wore PJs for a month. I bought some that were too big on purpose to allow room for the drains and swelling. Sometimes I wore two pairs of larger panties so I'd have someplace to put the drains, inbetween. Get some easy to get to low sodium food. Get your cell phone charger and extension cord if needed and put it beside your recliner.

Don't worry about going anyplace. You won't feel like it!

i returned to office job/Realtor at 2 weeks. I didn't stay at office all day and was tired at the end of the day. But, it was okay. Try to take it easy at work, but remember to get up and walk around every once in a while. The movement will actually help. I'm 33 days out now and feeling pretty good on most days. It is major surgery. I've had hysterectomy and a c section and it requires much more recovery. I do not regret one second of discomfort though!! It was so worth the effort and expense. Hang in there! ps. drink as much water as you can hold, increase protein, and reduce salt!

There's a very fine line between some activity and resting. I have found that pacing myself is best. Do some house work, then sit with feet up. Go for a short walk, then put your feet up. Don't push it even when you feel better. It can set you back!!!! Drink lots of water. I wasn't drinking enough the first 2 weeks and noticed a huge difference when I started drnking more. Avoid processed foods-high in sodium, low in nutrition. At 3 weeks, start gently massaging scars as long as they are not scabby still. Small circular motions. Massage your belly (no big motions, just small circular motions). This will help with swelling and will also help with nerve stimulation. I use coconut butter (real stuff not fake). Glides beautifully over the skin. In 3 days, my swelling is so much less and my skin doesn't have the "burning" feeling anymore. This is what has worked for me.