After your abdominoplasty procedure at Blair Plastic Surgery, there is a plan of care you will be asked to follow. Dr. Louton will make sure you have all of the information you need before you are released from our facility. You should commit yourself to following Dr. Louton’s instructions for care to ensure a complete and healthy healing process. Sticking to the recommendations can also mean better appearance results.

If you have any questions about steps involved in abdominoplasty recovery, please call 800-833-3888 to speak to a member of the Blair Plastic Surgery team.

Immediately Following Surgery

Remember, surgery is a form of trauma to the body and will require you to limit yourself while the body heals itself. After your tummy tuck, you can expect your abdominal area to be somewhat swollen and sore. Dr. Louton recommends you have a friend or family member around to help you during the first few days.

Bruising is expected in the ten-day period after the procedure, but should subside quickly. Discomfort is also normal, and Dr. Louton can help you minimize this with pain medication. You will be asked to return to our office in seven to ten days for the removal of your sutures. If drains are used after the procedure, you will come back in to have the drains removed as well.

Return to Activities

While it is important to get a lot of rest during the healing process, be careful not to remain too sedentary. You should vary your bed rest by standing and performing simple, non-stressful activities. Dr. Louton typically recommends a period of two to four weeks of downtime, depending on the type of work you do and lifestyle you lead.

Patients with jobs involving heavy lifting, for instance, may need to wait the full four weeks before returning to full time employment. Extremely physical activities such as weightlifting or sports may need to be avoided for up to six weeks.

Your Tummy Tuck Results

Over time, you will notice the incision site scars will fade and flatten. Patients experience different time lines with scar improvement, so you could see your final results in anywhere from three months to two years. Dr. Louton will show you many before and after photos to demonstrate just how much the appearance of scarring can improve over time.

To learn more about the incredible tummy tuck procedure, please contact our Pennsylvania body contouring office today by phone at 800-833-3888 or online to schedule your consultation with Dr. Louton. We serve patients in DuBois, Altoona, State College, Lewistown, Bedford, and Johnstown, Pennsylvania.