Question:
What is the recovery like for a tummy tuck without muscle tightening?
I am having a tummy tuck without any muscle tightening tomorrow. I have scanned the internet and I can't find anything about the recovery time or pain associated with a tummy tuck without muscle repair. Am I wrong to assume that the recovery will be easier since my muscles won't be involved? The doctor will be removing the extra skin and fat and relocating my belly button. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! — Alicia K. (posted on December 1, 2004)
December 1, 2004
I had a tummy tuck with no muscle tightening on 8/11/04. I took two weeks
off work from my desk job and then worked two weeks at 1/2 and 3/4 days.
I found that I would swell up when I tried to sit at my desk too long and
the swelling would be very uncomfortable. The pain wasn't that bad. I was
off the pain pills in about 7-9 days. I couldn't stand up straight for
about a week. I had more pain and soreness from my drain sites. My belly
button was relocated and looks great. I am very happy with my results so
far. Good luck to you tomorrow.
— ckreh
December 1, 2004
Dear Kelly,
The total recovery for the TT is between 4 to 6 weeks. The first two weeks
can be quite uncomfortable. Usually the worst part of the initial phase
are the drains that stay in 3 to 10 days depending on the output. If the
two rectus muscle are not seperated and don't need to be repaired, the
recovery should be significantly faster. I recommend to my patients that
they can take 400-600mg of Motrin/Advil/Ipuprofen 3 - 4x per day with some
food inbetween the pain pills. Good luck with your surgery! I hope this
information was useful. - Joshua Kreithen, M.D. - Lakewood Ranch Plastic
Surgery, Bradenton FL - www.lakewoodranchplasticsurgery.com
— Joshua Kreithen, M.D.
December 1, 2004
I was off work 4 weeks.
— star .
December 1, 2004
This seems to be one thing that varies greatly by person. I had fairly
extensive plastic surgery (extended abdominoplasty with muscle tightening,
brachioplasty, hernia repair, liposuction and the skin removed that flabbed
over the sides of my bra) all in one session. I took pain medication the
night of my surgery, though I wasn't in much pain, and then didn't need so
much as a Tylenol after. I had surgery on a Thursday, came home from the
hospital on Sunday and then began working half time from home on Monday. I
could easily have returned to work before two weeks, but my surgeon
insisted on nearly three weeks, though by that point I was working pretty
much full time from home and even going in to the office for an occasional
meeting. By far, the most bothersome thing to me was the JP drains. I had
those for many weeks after surgery. They didn't hurt--they just felt
foreign and were difficult to hide in clothes. I started out with seven
drains, came home from the hospital with five, and gradually got rid of
those beginning two weeks after surgery. I think I had the last one until
about six weeks after surgery. I'm not kidding when I say that I've had a
harder time getting over the flu than I did with this set of surgeries.
But, I don't think my experience is common--it seems most people have more
discomfort than I did, but I offer my experience has hope that your
recovery will be easy. Best wishes. (And you're going to love your new
look!)
— Vespa R.
December 3, 2004
I would just like to say that I am assuming Dr. Joshua must be referring to
patients that have not had gastric bypass surgery when he says to take
motrin, ibuprofen, etc. As someone who has had marginal ulcers, we know
that we shouldn't be taking any of that stuff. It is too hard on our
tummys.
— Melody B.
December 4, 2004
Hi. Hope you are doing well as you ahve already had surgery! The muscle
tightening is the main reason for pain, so hopefully you are comfortable.
I have found that the implantable pain pumps that put numbing medication
directly on the muscle area really help. Something for others to consider
asking about!
— DrL
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