After a tummy tuck and breast augmentation, you may be feeling a little bit lost about what to wear. You want to look your best, but you also don’t want to do anything that might make your new body feel uncomfortable. We’ve got some tips for you:
First, avoid clothes that are tight or have elastic waistbands. These types of clothing can put pressure on the incisions and bruises on your abdomen, which can be painful and cause swelling in the long run. Instead, try wearing loose-fitting pants with an elastic waistband or a skirt with a drawstring waistband.
Make sure that any shirts or dresses you wear have an empire waistline rather than just hanging straight down from the neckline—this will help disguise any extra skin on your tummy. And if possible, try to find tops that have wide armholes so they don’t rub against any scars from surgery (and if you don’t have any yet, this will help prevent them).
What is a tummy tuck?
Formally known as abdominoplasty, the tummy tuck is a surgical body contouring procedure designed to improve the appearance of the abdomen by removing excess skin and, in some cases, tightening the underlying abdominal muscles. Oftentimes, the surgeon will combine liposuction with a tummy tuck to remove stubborn areas of fat and further enhance the results of the procedure.
Why it’s done
There are a number of reasons you might have excess fat, poor elasticity of the skin or weakened connective tissue in your abdomen. These include:
- Significant changes in weight
- Pregnancy
- Abdominal surgery, such as a C-section
- Aging
- Your natural body type
A tummy tuck can remove loose, excess skin and fat, and tighten weak fascia. A tummy tuck may also remove stretch marks and excess skin in the lower abdomen below the bellybutton. However, a tummy tuck won’t correct stretch marks outside of this area.
If you’ve previously had a C-section, your plastic surgeon might be able to incorporate your existing C-section scar into your tummy tuck scar.
A tummy tuck can also be done in combination with other body contouring cosmetic procedures, such as breast surgery. If you’ve had fat removed from your abdomen (liposuction), you may decide to have a tummy tuck because liposuction removes tissue just under the skin and fat but not any excess skin.
A tummy tuck isn’t for everyone. Your doctor might caution against a tummy tuck if you:
- Plan to lose a significant amount of weight
- Might consider pregnancy in the future
- Have a severe chronic condition, such as heart disease or diabetes
- Have a body mass index that’s greater than 30
- Smoke
- Have had a previous abdominal surgery that caused significant scar tissue
Types of tummy tuck surgeries
A cosmetic surgeon may recommend one of the following tummy tuck surgery procedures to help give you a firmer, flatter, abdominal contour with minimal scarring:
Mini Tummy Tuck: If you’re mainly concerned about stretch marks and loose skin below your belly button, then the mini tummy tuck surgery is the ideal option. This procedure involves making one horizontal incision below your belly button, from which your surgeon then effectively tightens the loose abdominal muscles. Surplus skin is also removed to create a flat and firm abdominal wall.
Mini tummy tuck surgeries usually take a relatively shorter time and will often have a faster recovery time, along with minimal scarring. Expect a thin scar, usually a couple of inches, along with a firmer and flatter lower abdomen.
Full or Classic Tummy Tuck: This tummy tuck addresses both the upper and lower abdomen areas and will typically yield great results in removing excess fat. Your cosmetic surgeon will use either a U-shaped or horizontal incision below the belly button or the navel. Excess fat and skin are then eliminated to achieve a slim abdomen that looks natural.
The full or classic tummy tuck will typically leave a longer scar due to the extensive incisions required. However, the scar will hide below a swimsuit bottom. This type of tummy tuck benefits includes a considerably smoother, slimmer abdomen with fewer stretch marks and more comfort wearing skirts and pants.
Extended Tummy Tuck: The extended abdominoplasty is the standard tummy tuck that includes recontouring the flanks, hips, or even lateral thigh. It is quite useful for those who have experienced significant weight loss and are now dealing with excessively saggy skin on their abdomen. In most cases, the surgeon will perform liposuction around the flanks during the tummy tuck.
Risks
A tummy tuck poses various risks, including:
- Fluid accumulation beneath the skin (seroma). Drainage tubes left in place after surgery can help reduce the risk of excess fluid. Your doctor might also remove fluid after surgery using a needle and syringe.
- Poor wound healing. Sometimes areas along the incision line heal poorly or begin to separate. You might be given antibiotics during and after surgery to prevent an infection.
- Unexpected scarring. The incision scar from a tummy tuck is permanent, but it’s typically placed along the easily hidden bikini line. The length and visibility of the scar varies from person to person.
- Tissue damage. During a tummy tuck, fatty tissue deep within your skin in the abdominal area might get damaged or die. Smoking increases the risk of tissue damage. Depending on the size of the area, tissue might heal on its own or require a surgical touch-up procedure.
- Changes in skin sensation. During a tummy tuck, the repositioning of your abdominal tissues can affect the nerves in the abdominal area, and infrequently, in the upper thighs. You’ll likely feel some reduced sensation or numbness. This usually diminishes in the months after the procedure.
Like any other type of major surgery, a tummy tuck poses a risk of bleeding, infection and an adverse reaction to anesthesia.
How you prepare
You’ll talk to a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck. During your first visit, your plastic surgeon will likely:
- Review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions. Talk about any medications you’re taking or have taken recently, as well as any surgeries you’ve had.Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any medications. If your desire for a tummy tuck is related to weight loss, your doctor will likely ask detailed questions about your weight gain and loss.
- Do a physical exam. To determine your treatment options, the doctor will examine your abdomen. The doctor might also take pictures of your abdomen for your medical record.
- Discuss your expectations. Explain why you want a tummy tuck, and what you’re hoping for in terms of appearance after the procedure. Make sure you understand the benefits and risks of the procedure, including scarring. Keep in mind that previous abdominal surgery might limit your results.
Before a tummy tuck you might also need to:
- Stop smoking. Smoking decreases blood flow in the skin and can slow the healing process. In addition, smoking increases the risk of tissue damage. If you smoke, your doctor will recommend that you stop smoking before surgery and during recovery.
- Avoid certain medications. You’ll likely need to avoid taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory drugs and herbal supplements, which can increase bleeding.
- Maintain a stable weight. Ideally, you’ll maintain a stable weight for at least 12 months before having a tummy tuck. If you’re severely overweight, your doctor will recommend that you lose weight before the procedure. Significant weight loss after the procedure can diminish your results.
- Arrange for help during recovery. Make plans for someone to drive you home after you leave the hospital and stay with you for at least the first night of your recovery at home.
What To Wear After Tummy Tuck And Breast Augmentation
After your tummy tuck and breast augmentation, it’s important to wear a compression garment for at least three weeks. The purpose of the garment is to decrease swelling and prevent blood clots.
It can be hard to know what kind of garment you need, or even where to buy one. You may want to talk with your doctor or surgeon before buying anything, so they can tell you what kind of compression garments are available and which ones are best for your body type.
Your surgeon will probably also give you specific instructions about how long to wear the garment, how often it needs to be changed, and whether or not you should shower in it (usually not).
You should also remember that this is more than just a piece of clothing: it’s also an essential part of your recovery process. In order for your body to heal properly from surgery like this, it needs all the help it can get!
5 Tips for Recovery from Breast Augmentation & Tummy Tuck
1-Move!
Early ambulation and movement is vital in healthy recovery from surgery. It can help prevent some of the surgical risks post-operative which include DVT (deep vein thrombosis/blood clot) as well as decrease the side effects of surgery itself -such as swelling and discomfort. Staying sedentary after surgery increased the risks and discomfort from surgery.
2-Utilize a heating pad.
Muscles will tense after these two procedures which can contribute to a pain response in the body. Using a heating pad for the upper or lower back (NOT over or around the incision sites) can help relax the back muscles and therefore decrease any tightness associated with the procedure. Pain medication will also help take away most of the discomfort.
3-Eat foods rich in fiber.
Going under anesthesia and then taking narcotic pain medication during recovery can slow down the bowel function which in return can make the individual constipated and uncomfortable during the recovery period at home. By eating foods rich in fiber this can stimulate the bowels to return to normal function. It is also not uncommon for an individual to add an over the counter medication to assist in alleviating the bloating/constipation.
4-Recovery takes time!
Do not measure yourself, try on new clothes or bras immediately after surgery. You will be swollen and/or your breasts will be high on chest wall. In regards to breast augmentation the implants can take up to 3 months to settle into place on the chest wall. Also, for tummy tuck you will be swollen and it can take up to 3 months to see the final results from this procedure as well. Typical time off from work-for breast augmentation is around 1 week and for tummy tuck anywhere from 1-2 weeks.
5-Reclincer city!
During a tummy tuck the abdominal wall is tightened with sutures. Because of this-you will walk bent over for around 1 week post-surgery. Many individuals find it hard to sleep in a bed for ergonomic reasons and therefore find a recliner much easier to get in and out of for sleeping purposes. If you do not own a recliner a couch or bed with pillows propped up behind you will also work well. Breast augmentation patients find the recliner sleeping arrangement works well for them also. In the first week of recovery from a breast augmentation you may feel difficulty taking a deep breath and lying flat on your back increases that feeling. The recliner assists in obtaining adequate comfort and rest to promote healing.
A mommy makeover is a combination of procedures designed to improve the look and feel of the parts of the body that are most impacted by pregnancy. It is an extremely customizable surgery. You will be able to choose the procedures that address the areas you would most like to improve.
Surgeries that are commonly part of a mommy makeover are:
Breast augmentation
Breast reduction
Liposuction
Tummy tuck
Mini tummy tuck
Breast lift
Brazilian butt lift
Labiaplasty
Non-surgical procedures
Because it is a major cosmetic procedure, many women are concerned with the amount of recovery time involved. In this post, we’ll discuss what you can expect when recovering from a mommy makeover, including the amount of time you will need to take off work and/or arrange for childcare.
raleigh mommy makeover
Recovering From a Mommy Makeover
Your recovery time will depend largely on your body’s recovery rate and the procedures that are part of your mommy makeover. Typically, the more procedures that you have performed, the longer you can expect your recovery period to be. Keep in mind that recovery from a mommy makeover is typically not short.
The length of recovery time you will need is dictated by your most extensive procedure. For most patients, this is a tummy tuck. Here is a rough estimate of the recovery time for the most common procedures:
Breast lift and/or augmentation – back to work within a few days, six weeks before lifting or strenuous exercise
Liposuction – back to work the next day, six weeks before lifting or strenuous exercise
Tummy tuck – back to work after about two weeks, at least six weeks before lifting or exercising
Preparing for Recovery
There are a few things you can do before your surgery that will make recovery easier. Start by preparing a special rest area for yourself. Make sure to get extra pillows (we recommend a full body pillow) so that you will be completely supported while you rest. You should also put everything you will need, such as snacks, a water bottle, a wash basin, books/magazines, and any hobbies, within easy reach of your bed or recliner.
Immediately After Surgery
A mommy makeover is an outpatient procedure, meaning that you will go home the same day as your surgery. You will be sent home with the appropriate compression garments (included in the cost of your surgery) and a prescription for pain medication. North Raleigh Plastic Surgery does not carry or dispense narcotic pain medication.
You will need someone to drive you home as you will be coming out of anesthesia and will be on pain medication. We cannot allow patients to drive themselves home after surgery.
You should also arrange for childcare and help around the house for a few days, as you will be on narcotic pain medication for around one week after surgery. As long as you are on narcotic pain medication, you will not be able to drive. After the first week, we recommend using NSAIDs (Motrin or Advil) for pain.
You can resume light childcare duties (cooking, helping with homework) after this time but you will still not be able to lift anything more than 5 pounds until approximately 6 weeks post-op.
It is important to note that if a tummy tuck was part of your mommy makeover, you will need to remain bent at the waist for approximately two weeks after surgery.
Plan to sleep on your back or side during recovery. Many patients choose to sleep in a recliner as it helps them stay bent at the waist.
1-6 Weeks Post-Surgery
You will have your first post-op appointment with Dr. Ortiz at the 1 week mark, and another appointment at the 2 month/6 week mark. Any stitches will be removed at your first post-op appointment.
Expect bruising for 1-3 weeks, swelling for 2-8 weeks, and soreness/tenderness for several weeks post-surgery.
While complications are rare, the most common complication after a cosmetic procedure is infection at the incision sites. To lower this risk, follow all of Dr. Ortiz’s post-op care instructions and avoid swimming for at least three weeks after surgery.
You will continue to wear compression garments during this time and may return to work after approximately 2-3 weeks.
6+ Weeks Post-Surgery
At approximately 6 weeks/2 months after your mommy makeover, you should be able to start returning to your normal activities, including exercise. By this time, the swelling should have started to subside and you will begin to see the results of your surgery.