Congratulations on making the decision to move forward with your abdominoplasty procedure! You are investing in yourself and you will experience greater confidence and improved body image. While it is impossible to guarantee results of any cosmetic surgery, there are certain things that you can do both before and after your surgery to help you get the best results possible. Read below to find out what you should be doing to improve your outcome.
Pre-Operative Planning
What you do before your surgery date can have a significant impact on your end result. In order to maximize the results of your tummy tuck, it is important to follow through with any pre-operative instructions provided by your surgeon. Pre-operative instructions may include avoiding certain medications, avoiding foods with excess salt, drinking lots of water, engaging in exercises to build core strength, or stopping smoking for 4-6 weeks prior the surgery date.
Post-Operative Care
After your surgery is completed, it is important that you follow all post-operative instructions provided by your Surgeon in order to have a successful recovery. These instructions involve taking certain medications such as an antibiotic or pain medication as prescribed, sleeping in an upright position for a short period of time (in order to reduce swelling), wearing compression garments or abdominal binders, and refraining from rigorous activity until cleared by your surgeon. Although you will see immediate results, it is important to remember that there is some swelling that will go down within the first week or two following surgery, it can take anywhere from six months to 1 year for all swelling to subside so that you can see the final outcome of your procedure.
Long Term Care
There are several lifestyle changes that you should make in order to help keep your body looking its best over the long term. It is critical to follow post-surgical care in order to maintain your optimal results. These lifestyle changes include eating healthy whole foods rich in vitamins and minerals that help support tissue repair while also helping keep excess fat at bay; additionally, drinking plenty of water (at least 64 ounces per day). Drinking plenty of water will help flush out toxins from your system as well as help support collagen production which aids in skin elasticity and tightness. Finally, exercising regularly—specifically core exercises such as Pilates—can help improve posture and protect against future sagging due to muscle loss or other factors such as pregnancy or aging.
All aspects of a tummy tuck surgery should be taken seriously if you want the best results from this life-changing procedure. From planning ahead before surgery takes place all the way through making permanent lifestyle changes afterward. These tips will help ensure that you achieve optimal success with this investment in yourself! With these tips on hand, we hope that you feel empowered on this journey towards greater self-confidence and enhanced body image! If you are ready to schedule your consultation with Dr. Alton at Ingram Cosmetic Surgery in Nashville TN, give our office a call at (615) 431-3710. We would love to help you get started on your journey!
