1. Don’t forget to take your medication. Pain medication can be taken as needed, but you must take the antibiotics instructed. You can also take over the counter anti-inflammatory, but avoid aspirin products for at least a week after surgery.
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Post-op Instructions
Abdominoplasty
Abdominoplasty
2. There will be postoperative pain. Everyone has a different pain threshold and I cannot tell it your pain will be a major disturbance or minor nuisance.
3. After surgery you will have an abdominal binder to wear. This is not medically necessary, but most patients find that a supportive binder makes them feel more comfortable. Some patients keep it on 24 hours a day, but it is your option how often you wear it. Do NOT put your drains between the skin and underside of your binder. This may cause skin loss.
4. You can take a shower the day after surgery. Make sure that everything is completely dry before putting your clothes or binder back on.
5. There will be steristrips to help hold incisions together. You must wear them at least two weeks. If the edges begin to fray, trim them with scissors.
6. Although you may hurt after surgery, you need to get up and become active. At first you may walk slightly bent over, but within several days you will again walk upright. The drains can be pinned to the underside of your garments. Many patients are driving again in 3-4 days. Walking for exercise is permissible, but you cannot do any activities that cause you to break out in a sweat. If there have been no problems three weeks after surgery, you can resume normal activities.
7. You will have drains after surgery. They cannot be pulled until they drain less than 20cc per day. Usually this is 7-10 days, but do not be surprised if they need to stay in for up to two weeks. You need to keep a daily diary of drainage amounts from both the right and left sides.
8. You can put gauze or tissues over the incisions, but do not use any occlusion dressings because this just keeps the area wet and soupy and is perfect for starting infections. Keep your incisions clean and dry.
9. It may take 3-4 Months for all the swelling to go down. Once the steristrips are removed, you can apply scar ointment if you want. At first, scars are red raised, and hard. It will be at least a year before they become soft, flat, and more normal colored.
10. Signs and symptoms of infections include elevated temperature over 101 degrees, redness to the area, hot to touch, and a foul-smelling discharge from the incision site. If any of these occur, contact the office.
11. Pain medication refills should be requested at the time of your follow-up appointment. Pain medication will not be refilled after office hours or on weekends.
12. Some bloody drainage is normal. If the operative area shows signs of excessive bleeding (Slow general oozing that saturates the dressing completely or frank bright red bleeding) apply pressure to area, elevate and contact your physician at once.
13. If you have not urinated in 8 hours after arriving home, contact your physician.
If you should experience difficulty in breathing, bleeding that you feel is excessive, persistent nausea or vomiting, any pain that is unusual, swelling or fever, please call your physician. If you find that you cannot contact your warrant a physician’s attention, go to the nearest Emergency Room.
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