Showers or Baths After Tummy Tuck?

Shower is better for awhile for 2 reasons...First, you should not submerge your incision right after surgery and Second, getting in and out of a tub after tummy tuck can hurt and possibly pop a stitch in your tummy!!!

Thanks for the question. After a tummy tuck surgery you can take a shower after 48 hours. I wish you all the best.

Most of my patients having a full tummy tuck will spend at least 2 days in hospital.  As you are largely confined to the bed for the first day or two, most patients will shower with assistance after day 2 once the drip and drains have been removed. You must avoid having baths, swimming or submerging the wounds in water for the first 4 weeks to prevent infection or other post operative complications.

Patients are eager to shower following any type of cosmetic
surgery.We generally recommend that
patients wait at least 24 to 48 hours following surgery to shower.At this point the wound edges have sealed.Although
it’s reasonable to shower one or two days following surgery, it’s important not
to soak in a bath tub.This could
ultimately cause infections and other complications.Each
surgeon has his own protocols.For
instance, some surgeons don’t allow showering while drains are in place.For this reason, it’s important to discuss
bathing with your surgeon before undertaking this activity.

Hello! Thank you for your question! On average, a period of approximately 3-4 weeks on average is typical. Submerging in stagnant water, be it bathtubs, jacuzzis, pools, lakes, oceans, etc. can certainly increase your chance for infections. I usually await the incisions to be fully healed prior to allowing for this type of activity. If you do have any wound issues or delayed healing, expect that you will be restricted from doing such things. However, I allow my patients to shower and clean incisions at 3 days postoperative. Regardless, the answer will vary amongst plastic surgeons and you should discuss this with your surgeon and follow his/her instructions. Best wishes!

Realize that in a bathtub, you immerse not only your incision, but also your genital and rectal area--both "chock-full" with bacteria that you and your surgeon would rather NOT have come into contact with your healing incision (and drain site, if present). Showering rinses any contaminants and bacteria away, and soap and water are not harmful to healing in moderation--but NO "Calgon take me away!" bathing marathons.

Ask your surgeon if you have a drain in place, since some (myself included) feel that a portal out of the body is also a potential portal for bacteria into the surgical area, and ask that a patient wait until the drain is out before showering. I will let patients quickly shower with an antibacterial soap if a drain is in place for a longer period of time, and if the benefits of showering outweight the potential disadvantage of staying unwashed.

Best wishes!

In my practice I do not let my patients shower till the drains are out which usually takes a week.   Each surgeon performs the operations differently, has different dressings, etc which affect their post-operative managment.  In general our approaches are designed to achieve good reproducible results time and time again so I would ask your surgeon about their approach.

I would wait at least 2 weeks after the last drain is pulled from your tummy tuck incision. Bathwater contains many undersirable bacteria that can potentially crawl up any opening to cause an infection. In addition, you do not want to soak the incisional area which could macerate the fresh incision.

I am sure you will have an excellent recovery and result!

All the best,

Dr. Lille

I'm in agreement with the other doctors, this is one question that is best left answered by the operating surgeon. In my practice I prefer showering to immersion in a tub.  Keep in mind, most plastic surgeons would prefer the wound to be carefully cleaned with soap and water rather than not cleaned since this reduces bacteria in the skin and the risk of infection in the wound.

 

You should address this question to your surgeon.  In general in my practice, for any procedure which involves an incision - tummy tuck, breast implants, etc - I recommend shower only for the first two to three weeks.  Once the incision in healed properly you can resume taking baths.

 

Good Luck.