Get the real deal on beauty treatments—real doctors, real reviews, and real photos with real results.Here's how we earn your trust.
I have my patients wear tape over the incisions for the first two weeks after surgery. This eliminates much of the nursing care that needs to be done. Simply leave the tape on, shower over the tape, and pat it dry. The belly button typically is treated with just some Neosporin or antibiotic ointment for the first 10 days and then is left alone. Once you are 2-3 weeks post op, I have patients treat the scars just as the rest of the skin. No special treatment. Some patients feel that vitamin E oil, or scar creams, or cocoa butter, or something else needs to be used after the 2nd week, but it probably doesn't really matter.
Thank you for writing. I agree with Dr. Stoekel on using tape over the incisions and ointment on the navel. Occasionally there can be persistent drainage from the navel so I'll have the patients gently clean the area a few times a day with saline (salt water) on a Q-tip, then apply ointment and some absorbent gauze.
Water pills or diuretics should not be used for routine swelling after tummy tuck or liposuction surgery. Swelling is a part of the normal recovery process and will resolve with time. Diuretics can be dangerous and should only be prescribed by physicians confident in their use and certain of...
Most patients do not complain that their abdominal muscle separation causes them pain. Pain associated with abdominal tension would more likely be related to a hernia or muscle strain. The diastasis is just a weakening of the abdominal wall that results in a loss of strength and contour of the...
Most patients that decide to undergo tummy tuck surgery would say that the scar is well worth the overall improvement in body contouring, even when the scars are less than ideal. A well performed tummy tuck can place a scar that will hide quite well in most undergarments and bikinis. There...
This appears to be normal healing at 4 days post op. The creases in the skin and the unevenness will almost certainly resolve with just time. It might take 3 months for you to appreciate the final results, but it appears that you are well on your way and will likely be quite pleased with...
Leakage of fluid following drain removal usually stops 24-48 hours after the drain is removed. Although, it is not unusual for the site to drain longer. It is better to have the fluid drain out, than to stay inside your body. If the drain sites closes and the body continues to...
Non Surgical Tummy TuckNon surgical treatments are of limited benefit, these may include cool sculpt or similar for fat reduction, thermal or similar for skin tightening. They are all expensive and of limited benefit.Please make sure you understand the limitations of these treatments.