After surgery (post-operatory)
During the first few days the abdomen will be swelled and some discomfort which can be controlled through medication. You will stay in the clinic for 24 hours.
Although at the beginning you won’t be able to stretch completely you will have o walk as soon as possible. The stitches around the umbilicus will be removed after 5-7 days, the stitches in the horizontal zone, in 2-3 weeks. You will have the feeling of numbness and loss of sensibility in the central zone and lower abdomen, which will be progressively recovered after a few months.
You will have to wear a corset constantly, approximately during 3-4 weeks. You might need a week to feel as you felt before the operation. If your physical condition was good before the operation including a strong abdominal muscles the recovery will be faster. Most of our patients go back to work in 2 weeks, though others need 3-4 weeks of rest after surgery.
Physical exercise helps to a prompter recovery. Even people who didn’t practice sport before the operation will have to do sport in order to reduce the swelling and to give tone to the muscles. However, strong exercise must be avoided during the first month. Scars might seem to get worse during the first 3-6 months while they are healing, but they will lose that colour afterwards.
You must wait 9 months to 1 year so the scar will flatten and lighten. Although the scars will not ever disappear, they won’t be visible when you wear bikini or swimsuit. Scars around the belly button and in lower abdomen will get better over the course of time.
Complications are possible but very rare, some seroma or bruises which will have to be evaluated through puncture and compression with the corset.
The rest of complications are very rare and infection is solved through antibiotics and drainage but this will mean stain more time in the clinic.
Venous thrombus is prevented moving the legs and standing up as soon as surgery allows you.
Abdominoplasty proportions excellent results in patients whose abdominal muscles are weakened and have an excess of fat and skin in their lower part of the abdomen. In most of the cases the results are permanent, if they have a balanced diet and they practice exercise.