What are the best ways to reduce swelling after a drainless tummy tuck? (Photo)

Congratulations on your drainless tummy tuck.  Drainless makes the recovery so much easier.  Swelling occurs with tummy tucks of all kinds.  There is flap swelling which is largely due to the lymphatic drainage, which is compromised in the first few months. It is often worse at the end of the day, after standing and sitting, and is usually better in the morning.  It is good to have your PS check your surgical site periodically, to ensure no fluid (seroma) has accumulated.  This can happen with or without drains, and in my hands, it happens less with the drainless.  External compression with spanks, spandex, garments, bike shorts or girdles, have all been helpful, and must be tailored to the individual.  See what works for you!  I remind everyone that roughly half of the swelling goes away in the first month, and the other half takes a whole year.  It always gets better eventually.  

The swelling is normal, but aggravated by sitting a lot at work. A standing desk would be ideal, but if this is not available, I would use some topifoam over the lower abdomen.  We use topifoam as long as the swelling lasts, usually 1-3 weeks and as tolerated by the patient.  I softly distributes pressure and  flattens the swollen area without constriction. One thing to avoid, make sure there is no tight underwear that can cause a band across the lower abdomen.  That can cause a persistent groove depression and impair circulation to the lower flap, and increase swelling.  A foam pad between the underwear and skin eliminates this problem.

Healing after a  #tummytuck will requires time. Your abdomen will feel tight for a month or longer. If you have had a muscle repair as well (the usual case), you will feel the most tightness down the center of your tummy where the doctor has actually repaired your muscles. The purpose of the post-procedure #garment is to provide some gentle #support and to reduce swelling following a #TummyTuck or #Abdominoplasty. If it feels too tight or causes pain, take it off. Patients wear the #elastic garment for several weeks after surgery, as directed by their doctor. Some choose to wear it longer for several months for comfort.Be sure you are getting up and walking a bit to decrease the swelling. With time, the swelling will diminish. Also, if you have any concerns about your healing or recovery, it's best to contact your plastic surgeon  sooner than later, to prevent any possible infections or #healing complications.The #healing process make take at least 3-4 months until you see your final results. I suggest you contact your surgeon or their medical staff and further inquire. At any time, you have any concerns about your healing or recovery, it's best to contact your plastic surgeon  sooner than later,  to prevent any possible infections or #healing complications.

While the drain-free tummy tuck technique typically means a faster, easier recovery, there's still some post-op swelling to be expected. This should decrease noticeably over the next few months and more gradually for the following few months after that. In the meantime, keep following your surgeon's recovery guidelines, including wearing a compression garment if recommended. You can also limit sodium intake, eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies and make sure you stay hydrated to help limit swelling. Good luck with your recovery!

Congratulations on going for the No-drain TT. This is a vast improvement over the TT with drains, one that I did for over 30 years, so I know. However, it is still a tummy tuck, so there will be swelling, and it will not completely subside, meaning all of the swelling, for a year. At 12 days, you are just beginning to have rapid swelling reduction.At this point, you may want to get Spanks or any comfortable compression garment. I would also try to sit upright at work as much as possible to keep the garment from wrinkling on your new tummy. For a diet, keep the sodium intake down as much as possible, and drink plenty of water. There is no magic bullet, however. Mother nature at work here.Thank you for your question and best of luck to you.

Variable swelling after a tummy tuck is totally normal especially durIng the very early postoperative period . Eventually this will lessen over time but you will notice healing for three to six months . It is important to wear your comoression garment especially durIng the daytime when you are most active . It is also important to,follow the advice of your surgeon and to follow up as recommended .

Thanks for the great question. The swelling you're experiencing is totally normal. The one down side to the drainless TT is that patients do tend to have more swelling. The swelling typically is significantly better by 3-4 weeks after surgery. It sounds like you're doing all of the right things to minimize the swelling. Wearing your compression, walking, and minimizing salt intake will all help to reduce it. I hope this helps and best of luck!~Dr. Sieber

Thank you for your question. It sounds as if you are doing all the right things to care for yourself during your tummy tuck recovery. Unfortunately, while drainless tummy tucks can shorten recovery time, swelling is to be expected for several months following your surgery. If you are uncomfortable when sitting, you can try various positions (more upright, propped up with pillows, etc.) to help mitigate that discomfort, and I would recommend talking with your surgeon to see if they have suggestions - they know your specific case, and can best advise you on how to proceed. Good luck!
Best,
Rupesh Jain, MD

A drainless tummy tuck makes for a faster and less painful recovery, no pesky drains to empty. It does not prevent swelling, which comes and goes in every area of your tummy, especially the lower part after sitting. If the swelling doesn't go away, and starts looking like " jelly" go back to your plastic surgeon to determine if you have a seroma which might need aspiration.