What Can I Do to Get Rid of Swelling After Tummy Tuck Surgery?

Half the swelling is gone one month after tummy tuck.  The other half takes a year. Things that help:  1.  Time. 2.  Comfortable compression. 3.  Decompressive Lymphatic Massage. Anything required? Time. 

Depending on the extent of the procedure, swelling can last up to 6-12 months. However most of the swelling generally subsides by 2-3 months. I have found a snug (not tight) abdominal binder and in some cases lymphatic massage can help speed up the swelling recovery process as well.

A tummy tuck is a major operation and selling does take time to go down. A good compression garment is helpful. I advice first stage garment which is usually a velcro type for first 6 weeks and followed by a second stage garment which is much softer and comfortable to wear. this should be worn for upto 20 hours a day for 4-6 months to get good results. In some patients swelling takes much longer to go down and in such cases few sessions of lymphatic massage helps with the swelling .

Thank you for your question. To reduce abdominal and belly button swelling, I recommend daily lymphatic drainage massage therapy 5 times at week for the next two months, and wear a postoperative girdle for two months at least.Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Thank you for your questions.  Continuing to wear your compression garments can definitely help with the swelling. In regards to the numbness, it does take a while for the nerve endings to all re connect, but you can do gentle massage in the area to help speed the process along.  I would recommend having a follow up with your surgeon and follow their post surgical protocol.   Best of luck to you. 

Beyond wearing your compression garment, lymphatic massage can be great for removing excess swelling. Unfortunately there is nothing that can make you heal faster, just make sure you are eating a healthy diet so your body has everything it needs to heal itself. The numbness usually resolves in a few months.

thank you for your question,
Its ımportant to wear your compressiıon garment at least 2 months and you can help to accelerate the healing process with lymphatic drainage massage to help empty lymphatics in the area of surgery that has retained lymph. It is a very superficial massage. Lymph is pushed through the lymphatics, and swelling decreases. be sure that your massage therapist be trained in lymphatic drainage.
good luck.

Great question! Lymphatic massage from a certified massage therapist that deals specifically with lymphatic techniques has been instrumental in my patients that take a little longer to heal.

Your doing a great job with the compression garments.  Compression garments will help resolve postop swelling much faster and I recommend using them for at least 8 weeks.  Another treatment I offer to my post-tummy tuck patients is endermologie treatments which will significantly help the swelling and help achieve your final result much faster.  Hope this helps!

Thank you for your question.  The frustrating component for patients following a tummy tuck is the time that it takes the body to rid all of the abdominal swelling.  I advise patients each week that passes the swelling will slowly start to move its way down and eventually out.  It can take up to three months for majority of the swelling to resolve, but for some patients it take up to one year.  I encourage you to continue following your post-operative instructions and regular follow-up visits with your board certified plastic surgeon.  Hope this helps. 

Hello and thank you for posting your question. Some numbness might last for months, but will get better with time as your tissue and nerves heal. I feel post-op lymphatic massages are essential in the first 2 weeks post-op. Keep in mind there is no magic number as to how many massages are needed. This means patients might benefit form massages for up to several months post-op. Wearing a tight post-op garment plus post-op lymphatic massages will help a great deal in managing early swelling and avoiding it in the latter months. I recommend my patients use their garment 24/7 for 2-3 months, and then using it every once in a while for up to 6 months if necessary. 
Swelling can last for about 2-3 months. Most patients are very close to final results within 3 - 4 months, but there will still be some swelling as the tissues take much more time to maturely heal. A little swelling may persists for up to a year, so please be patient. 

Hope this helps answer your question,
Dr. Miguel Mota