What Happens After Having a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) plastic surgery?

If you are looking to get a Tummy Tuck operation, this is what you may be in for.

I am a man, 54 years old who had attained a weight of over 300 pounds. Over the course of about 2 years of dieting and daily exercise I reduced my weight to 155lbs. This left me with a lot of excess skin around my belly and mid section. Since I didn't want to live with this for the rest of my life, I decided to look into a Tummy Tuck operation.

See what happened before and during the operation.

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 (12/4/07) Tummy Tuck and Lateral Thigh Lift Surgery Day

 
Tummy Tuck Recovery

(12/5/07) The Day After. I awoke to find that I actually felt pretty good. I had no pain and I was clear headed. I had to move very slowly and take great care about getting into and out of bed.  My home health care nurse (Donna) insisted on helping me walk from the bed to the living room chair (just to be on the safe side). She made some oatmeal for me to eat. It was tasteless and dry. I discovered later that my taste buds were effected by the anesthesia. Food did not taste good for about one week following the operation. Also, I did notice that I got fuller faster. I attribute that to the tightened belly skin and the compression garment that I was wearing. Donna left at 11:30 am. I weighed myself on the scale to try to determine how much "skin weight" was removed. I was surprised. Instead of showing a weight loss, the scale indicated that I had gained 4 lbs. I assumed this increase of weight to be a retention of all of the fluids they pumped into me during the operation as well my morning breakfast. I was also wearing a large heavy elastic compression garment around my midsection. Skin weight loss could not be determined. The rest of the day was uneventful.

The Compression Garment
The compression garment that I used was provided for me "free" by my plastic surgeon. I'm told they usually cost about $50 and patients are usually informed to purchase two of them, one for wearing while the other is in the wash. Mine is 9" wide. I wore it continually at home for the first few months. I felt that wearing it as long as possible would be good for the healing process plus it gave me a sense of security.

Following my surgery the garment became stained with blood seepage from my wound areas. To clean it, simply soak the stained areas with hydrogen peroxide for several minutes. Blood will dissolve before your eyes. Heavy areas might need additional soaking. Toss it in the washer and it comes out nice and clean and free of stains.

I was told that it would only be good for a few weeks and would wear out after a few washings. Turns out that it was good for at least one year and still going strong. I still wear it occasionally at night and in the evening when I have had too much to eat. I feel that it might help to keep my stomach from stretching out again.

(12/7/07) First follow-up visit to the plastic surgeons office to check up on me and my drains. I had to take a taxi to and from the office because I was not allowed to drive for two weeks. The drains were functioning well according to the doctor. I informed him that I had no pain at all, just a numb or "tight feeling" like there was a band around my stomach and waist. He was surprised and pleased that I had no pain.

(12/10/07) Second follow-up visit to the doctor. Drains removed, Suture lines looked good. I informed him again that I had no pain, just numbness around the waist. When the doctor pulled out the drains he simply held my skin at the point of connection then simply pulled out the plastic tubing. They both slipped out nicely with no pain or discomfort.

(12/11/07) I cheated and drove before I should have. I drove one week before the 2 week restricted timeframe. But I craved a treat and wanted to get out of the house. A treat for me  is a mixture of  Low Fat Borden Vanilla Yogurt (300 calories per large tub) and a can of Fat Free Whipped Cream (200 calories per can). I went to Publix and wore an ace bandage beneath my shirt and long pants. Driving to supermarket was uneventful but only took 5 minutes. I used extreme care getting into and out of the car. Walking up and down the aisles was no problem except that I was getting a little nervous and a little shaky. This was due in part to my having to hold up pants with my left hand to keep them from falling down. My pants were slightly too big and I could not tighten my belt because of my stitches at my waste. This was a big problem at this point in time. I was also starting to get tired. I seemed to tire easily since the surgery. Made it to the checkout counter with no major mishap. My hand was pretty shaky when I signed the Amex slip to pay.  I felt relief when I got back into the privacy of my car. Noticed that my shirt tail was beginning to pull out of my back and my lowest front shirt button came undone. Hope that occurred as I entered the car. Drove home no problem.

I Pigged Out! As well as buying the yogurt and the whipped cream as treats I also bought two other "treat" items. Some no fat cottage cheese and rice cakes. After eating these my stomach hurt on inside – felt like bursting from the inside. I didn't really eat that much. Have to get used to the tightened skin (I still had the compression bandage on too).

(12/16/07) I exercised with light dumbbell weights and various stretches for 1 hour. I think was suppose to wait a few weeks before exercising but I was feeling very good. I took great care to avoid any pulling on the midsection area and my stitches.

(12/17/07) Woke up feeling fairly normal. No noticeable bloated of numb feeling in tummy area while lying in bed. Slept with ace bandage as well as big bandage on.

(12/19/07) Weight: 156 lbs. Finally made it back to my weight the day of surgery. Maybe this means some of my swelling has gone down because I know I did not lose any by dieting since the surgery. I think I can see a difference in swelling since the surgery. I think I look  a little slimmer.

To assist my pants in staying up and to better protect my stitches I wore the smaller ace bandage low on my hips up to and covering the stitches. In doing this my pants will fit tighter and I won't have to cinch my belt as much. It worked except that by the time I got home it felt a little too tight and was a relief when I got it off.

Had 10:00am appointment with the PS to have my stitches removed. The degradable stitches have been dissolving and falling off during the previous week and are mostly all gone now. Today the PS will remove the belly button stitches and well as the few permanent  stitches around the waist.

Stitches Removed. While I was standing the doctor removed stitched from my back and sides.  I then laid on my back on the table and he continued to remove the stitches on my front and belly button area. Approximately 15 stitches were removed.

The PS noticed that it looked like I had some fluid retention (drainage) in my midsection and decided to drain it. He inserted an needle just below my belly button and drained (sucked up) about ½ cup of red drainage fluid from my mid area. He told me not to look and I told him I did not want to but I wanted to see the needle and how much it contained after he was done. I was surprised to see that much drainage was still inside me. He said that it was not uncommon and that by draining it the way he did saves my body the trouble of absorbing it and aids in the healing process.

I had prepared some questions for the doctor that I wanted to ask him during this visit. The questions and answers are as follows:

Questions that I asked the PS at this time.

-When can I resume taking Ecotrin each day? I can start today.

-The fingers in my right hand have no strength. I can barely hold a pen. I don't think so, but is there any connection with having the operation? Probably not. The body is in a weakened condition.

-Any surgery difficulties encountered during the operation? Forgot to ask.

-Is the belly protrusion swelling? Some of it is. Can't tell how much.

-Will belly button open up? Yes

-Why the uneven cut line in the back? The body is uneven. Different amounts cut off on each side to look good.

-Diet now or wait and let my body heal first before continuing diet? Let body heal first is probably a good idea.

-How long should I continue to sleep with my head and legs elevated? He asked me if I had any bloating in my legs. I said no. He said then I can stop elevating my legs now.

-I wear the big white support almost full time to inadvertently avoid pulling at the stitches. How much longer do you recommend? He said that was very good that I was still wearing it and continue for a while.

-When can I safely stretch the stitches area? Not for a while.

Before he left the room I commented on how to me it looked like he did an excellent job and to compliment his staff on their professionalism and that they were friendly and courteous throughout the entire process. He thanked me for the compliment.

I was scheduled to return in one week, December 27, I think to take post operative pictures. I assume I will receive follow-up and pos op instructions including scar reduction techniques at that time.

Following the appointment I went grocery shopping at Publix. I walked slowly and did fine.

In the afternoon I took more photos to document the day of stitches removal.

(12/20/07) 1 hour of exercise. Still using the lower 15 lb weights.

Went to family doctor to have him take blood pressure readings over time to show that I have white coat hypertension and that my real blood pressure is normal. It worked. After numerous readings and passage of time between each reading my BP made it down to 132/73 with pulse 69. Still higher that it is at home but good enough to fall into the normal category. I did this for health insurance purposes (I was applying for new  and cheaper health insurance).

This time when I went out I wore shorts and a Polo shirt for comfort to better aid my lowering of blood pressure (feeling more comfortable). Shorts don't fall down as easily as long pants. Driving and travel is a lot more comfortable in shorts.

(12/21/07) Removed bandages and wrap and noticed the swelling had gone down considerably. Hope it continues. Seems that my stomach area is becoming less numb as I think I have more feeling there and it seems to be more tender. Still healing quite well though. I am duly impressed with how fast the stitches have healed and how the skin is coming together nicely. Doesn't look too bad now. Stomach seems flatter today in the mirror.

(12/23/07) Went to Publix wearing long pants. This time I wore the ace bandage lower on my hips as an aid to keep my pants up. It worked. I work the pants up higher and they stayed up the whole time.

Took photos of myself in pushup position to compare to pre-operation pushup photos.

Exercised 1 hour using the 25 lb weights for the second day. It was a little bit easier today than yesterday.

I tried doing pushups again today. I can do 15 with no problem. Before the operation I could do 30. These muscles must still be very weak.

When I was rubbing my stomach I observed that the numbness is starting to fade and is being replaced by tenderness and more feeling. I take this as a good sign of recovery.

The last 3 temporary stitches came out by themselves as I applied ointment to the area. Now I have no more stitches in me. I am stitch less.

Looking back I attribute my speedy recovery and no pain throughout the process to me being in the best shape of my life before the procedure as a result of the supplements that I took, the daily exercises (weights and swimming – over 2 hours worth per day) and the only healthy foods that I ate.

(12/25/07) Each day I apply new antibiotic ointment, Neosporin, to my stitches. Since they are almost fully healed, I save money by covering them with loops of toilet paper before applying the ace bandage. Using store bandages got expensive and was providing no useful value as infection was not so much a concern anymore since there were no current openings. On top of the ace I still used the compression garment. I basically only use that to remind me to limit my movements and I read somewhere it aided in the reduction of swelling.

(12/27/07) 2:45 appointment with PS, presumably for "after" pictures.

I was wrong. No after picture taken. Just another post op checkup. Everything looked fine. Doctor examined me to see if there was anymore drain fluid buildup in my stomach area. Wasn't sure so he stuck another drain needle in my belly and fished around for a pocket of fluid but came up dry. I take that as good news in that I did not have anymore waste/drainage fluid in my belly. Needle did not hurt at all. Made another post op appointment in 6 weeks. Still wearing compression garment all the time. Adding new antibiotic ointment every day.

(01/02/08) Took off compression garment. Only wear it for exercising and sleeping at night.

(01/05/08) Noticed that my lower parts are returning to normal with regards to swelling. A few weeks after the operation my lower parts grew bigger and noticeably larger.

Before the procedure the nurse told me that sometimes the scrotum area becomes enlarged due to draining fluids and gravity. It seems as though she was correct. Today it looks like they are back to normal. Some feeling is returning to my tummy area but it still feels like I am wearing a band around my waist all the time, especially when I have a full stomach. I think I have gained a few lbs over the holidays. A few lbs shows up noticeably in my belly area now. I have to forget about not dieting to aid the healing process and get back on the diet to get down to 147lbs. my target weight. Current weight is about 160lbs.

(02/07/08) At consultation with the doctor I mentioned weakness in my right hand fingers and the inability to do fingertip pushups. He referred me to a neurologist. Note: I subsequently went to a neurologist then after that a neurosurgeon regarding the weakness in my right hand and both of them indicated that this was not a result of my tummy tuck operation. I am not 100% convinced that it is not related somehow. The timing is too coincidental.

(04/21/08) Final visit with the doctor. He said everything looked good and there was no more reason for further visits. Note: I asked him what was the first date that I mentioned weakness in fingers. He looked in his records and told me that it was on 2/7/08.