Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Pre-Tummy Tuck Concerns

1. From a 1 to 10 scale (1 being the lowest), how painful would it be post-procedure?

2. Does it help to take multi-vitamins and do aerobics everyday before going through the procedure, to ensure quicker recovery?

3. Will 3 months be enough recovery time?

4. Are there certain things you cannot eat? I was told to minimize my sodium intake because my body will absorb and store it, and will make me swell up much more then I normally would.

5. Can you put Neosporin on the scar while it's healing?

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15 Doctor Answers | Asked by judynq in fort worth, tx

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Key questions prior to tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

1. From a 1 to 10 scale (1 being the lowest), how painful would it be post-procedure? For some it is a 5 and for others it is a 9. Which one will you be. It is similar to asking how much pain is childbirth. It varies tremendously among individuals 2. Does it help to take multi-vitamins and do aerobics everyday before going through the procedure, to ensure quicker recovery? Absolutely! Maintaining adequate protein intake is important as well. You should avoid... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

32 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Make sure your plastic surgeon is certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery

Judy, All of the questions that you have posed would be covered in depth during consultation with your board certified plastic surgeon. If you go in to the consultation with too many preconceptions it may cloud the information that you receive and take away from the protocols that work best for the surgeon you choose. I would recommend taking a written list of these questions to your surgeon for discussion. Good luck!

It is good to have many questions

Judy, You have several questions, so I will go through them one by one. 1. From a 1 to 10 scale (1 being the lowest), how painful would it be post-procedure? The pain from tummy tucks vary from person to person. I would describe it more as discomfort more than pain. Your doctor should give you pain medications and muscle relaxers which will help considerably. Additionally, he or she may inject the area with local anesthesia or put in a pump to continually bathe the area with local... more

Tummy tuck surgery is a big operation

Your questions are good ones- I'd recommend sitting down with a board certified plastic surgeon in your area for a thorough discussion on the recovery aspects of this operation- everyone is different, and its impossible to answer this question with anything other than generalities.

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a painful procedure when the abdominal wall is repaired.

A tummy tuck is painful although it varies greatly with patients. Few patients describe is as severe but certainly when the abdominal muscles are used (such as getting out of bed) the patients know they have had surgery. So I can't really grade it on a 1 to 10 basis because it is variable, probably 3 to 7 range. Vitamins are of no benefit. Diet doesn't really make any difference. Neosporin can be placed on the incision but has no effect on the outcome of... more

Addressing pre-tummy tuck concerns

Prior to a tummy tuck you should be at or near your goal body weight. You should maintain a healthy diet before and after the procedure. You should avoid aspirin, Motrin, Advil and any other medications that can cause bleeding-your surgeon can give you a more detailed list of medications to avoid. Most patients complain of tightness after the surgery which is due to the repair of the abdominal muscles, but usually the pain is controlled by taking Vicodin or a similar... more

Tips to success with abdominoplasty

Your concerns before abdominoplasty are all understandable. I sincerely believe that the downtime with abdominoplasty is not as severe as what is described in certain reviews. Here are my formulas for success. I utilize a long acting local anesthetic during the surgery, so you feel less pain after the procedure. Prenatal vitamins, which are easier on the stomach, are prescribed pre procedure. An abdominal binder is provided within one week of surgery... more

Four Pre-Tummy Tuck Questions and Answers

1. From a 1 to 10 scale (1 being the lowest), how painful would it be post-procedure? - Everyone is different. Men sense more pain than women. Women who had several children sense less pain than those who never had a child. Moreover, the pain a week after the operation is much better than the day after surgery. By numbing the tummy with long-lasting anesthetics, my tummy tuck patients have almost no pain the first 12 hours after surgery. After that the pain is tolerable and none walk... more

Rate pain after tummy tuck surgery on a scale of 1-10

1) Generally the post-procedure pain is very subjective. Some people will feel less pain and some people will feel severe pain. Generally on a scale from 1-10, I would say the first 42-78 hrs are between a five and a six. Most plastic surgeons will send a patient home with pain medicine such as Vicodin or Percocet. If pain is a great concern, you can have a pain pump placed underneath the issue to help alleviate pain. But, I have found with my patients pain is not a... more

Tummy Tuck Tips

Tummy tucks are a popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. Patients should keep in mind that after the surgery there is a significant recovery process. Patients should expect to take several weeks off work to recover comfortably and to return to the gym after 4 to 6 weeks. Patients tell us that the first 2 to 3 days after the surgery are the most uncomfortable. In our practice, our patients say that the pain is much less than childbirth or a C-section and that they can... more

Preparing for tummy tuck

These are all good questions. The discomfort after a tummy tuck comes primarily from pulling the rectus muscles together. This is necessary to get the best result and a flat abdomen, but the muscles become very sore. I would say without medication it is a 6 or 7, although everyone's tolerance is different. With medication, it should be a 2 or 3. I give my patients muscle relaxants, narcotics and non-steroidals and they do just fine. You can put Neosporin on scars but I use paper tape... more

Pain after Tummy Tuck

When the muscles are repaired the surgery is painful. Your surgeon can use the PAIN PUMP to reduce the pain. Pain medication for the first one week is normal, after that most patients go to non narcotic meds. You can take multivitamins, avoid mega doses. No Large doses of vit. E, fish oil, no DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS. Recovery is 4 weeks.

Questions before a tummy tuck

To answer your questions quickly: Pain varies and I have had patients respond for the full scale (1 to 10). Most would say 3-6, where 10 is giving birth or passing a kidney stone. Avoid Vitamin E or Fish Oil - these increase bruising or bleeding. I like Vitamin C and a "regular" multivitamin such as Centrum. Do your normal exercise routine up to the procedure and stop 1 or 2 days ahead. You don't want to be recovering from some strenuous exercise regime and the tummy tuck at... more

1. From a 1 to 10 scale (1 being the lowest), how...

1. From a 1 to 10 scale (1 being the lowest), how painful would it be post-procedure? 5-7 generally 2. Does it help to take multi-vitamins and do aerobics everyday before going through the procedure, to ensure quicker recovery? Eat a normal healthy diet, follow your plastic surgeons instructions. Avoid aspirin. 3. Will 3 months be enough recovery time? Yes plenty 4. Are there certain things you cannot eat? I was told to minimize my sodium intake because my body will absorb and store it,... more

Tummy tuck questions

1) Most patients feel that it is about a 7 or 8. 2) MVI's can help the healing process. It is always better to be in good shape before surgery. 3) You probably need 2 weeks off from work and about 6=-8 weeks to get back to the gym. 4)Avoid blood thinner medication, and foods that can thin your blood like excessive garlic and alcohol. 5) Neosporin is ok on the scar, but I usually keep the incision line taped for 3-4 weeks.