Category: Tummy Tuck

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A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, is a procedure that can help you with getting your abdominal area flatter and smoother, especially after pregnancy or weight loss. Although this surgery can have outstanding beneficial effects, it is definitely considered a fairly invasive procedure. This means that there are a few activities to avoid after a tummy tuck to get through the recovery period as seamlessly as possible.

A tummy tuck can help you keep the weight off, but you have to be careful after surgery since the recovery period can last up to 12 weeks. As your abdominal muscles heal, you must abstain from doing certain activities for the time being. Since patients sometimes tend to overestimate themselves, it is crucial to keep in mind that you have to allow your body to recuperate after a tummy tuck to reduce the risk of complications on your way to recovery.

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A tummy tuck is third on the list of most popular aesthetic surgeries in the U.S.

Therefore, you might have to make some changes to your daily routine for a few weeks. Read on to find out what you should avoid doing after a tummy tuck surgery – and for how long.

Avoid Driving After a Tummy Tuck

You will most likely be put into general anesthesia before the surgery to ensure you do not feel any pain or discomfort. However, when you wake up after the procedure, the anesthetic might make you feel a bit lightheaded and woozy. That is why you should not attempt to drive after the surgery for some time (and especially soon after the surgery!). So…

Do not drive yourself home after the surgery

Your surgeon might give you the green light to go home on the day of the procedure. However, it is best if a family member or a friend drove you home. If you decide to take a taxi home, it is still recommended that you have someone to stick by your side. Since you might be too out of it after the tummy tuck, they can help you put on your clothes, get in the car, and arrive home safely. 

Keep in mind that you can also choose to spend the first night at the surgical center if you feel too weak to head back home immediately.

Do not drive for a few weeks after the surgery

It would be best if you did not attempt to drive your car even after the anesthetic wears off completely. You will probably have to take strong pain relievers for some time after the procedure, which is why you want to wait until the pain and the swelling go away. Even if your surgeon does not prescribe painkillers, you will not be able to drive for quite some time. Either way, be sure to consult your surgeon every step of the way.

Avoid Eating Salty Foods

Surgeons usually prescribe a strict diet their patients are required to follow after a tummy tuck. Since you will experience swelling in the abdominal area, salty food is not allowed, especially in the first week after the procedure.

Salty, processed, and frozen food makes your tummy bloat, making the healing process unnecessarily painful.

Exercising Is One of the Activities to Avoid After a Tummy Tuck Surgery

So, although you might have gotten used to exercising prior to the surgery, it is best if you do not attempt to go to the gym several weeks after the procedure. Simply put, your muscles are entering the process of repair to ‘fill in’ the space left empty after fat and skin have been removed from your belly. Since your core muscles are recovering, weight-lifting or aerobic activities will disrupt the healing process, which is why you should avoid working out at least two weeks after the surgery.

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One of the activities to avoid after a tummy tuck is going to the gym or doing other demanding exercises. You should move minimally during the first few weeks.

For this reason, be sure to avoid activities that might strain your core muscles excessively. For instance, if you have to lift your baby, be sure to do it while you are sitting down. Also, activate your arms and thighs, so you do not hurt your stomach muscles when you are doing it.

When it comes to other activities that involve lifting bulky items, such as relocating to a new home, it is best if you leave the heavy lifting to those who have the experience and strength to do this for you. No matter how strong you might feel, hiring professionals to help you with your move is definitely a better option than risking disrupting your muscle repair.

Keep Your Body Active by Walking After the Surgery

However, this does not mean you shouldn’t move your body at all. Sometimes patients take this recovery guideline too literally and stop engaging in a physical activity altogether. Although you shouldn’t exercise vigorously, it is essential to walk after the surgery. Succumbing to the pain and turning into a couch potato is also not suitable for your recovery process. You need to start activating your stomach muscles by walking normally a few days after the surgery.

Walking after surgery is also crucial for a bowel movement. When you do not move at all, gastrointestinal gases can pile up and increase the amount of post-op pain the patient feels. Additionally, light exercise increases blood flow, which speeds up the healing process.

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Your stomach might hurt if you stay inactive after the surgery.

So, although you might experience pain when you move or even stand up straight in the first few weeks, it is important to endure the pain and engage in short walks as often as possible. 

All in all, we hope this short article on activities to avoid after a tummy tuck surgery has helped you visualize what your healing process should look like. We wish you a quick recovery!

This entry was posted on Monday, March 22nd, 2021 at 5:48 pm and is filed under Abdominoplasty, Tummy Tuck. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

With summer just around the corner, everyone is getting ready to enjoy the warmer months. The pool, the beach, and outdoor barbecues are common activities people partake in during the summertime. As the sun comes out, many people tend to show more skin to stay cool in the hot weather. Some people may be panicking and worried about getting beach body ready. The idea of bikinis, shorts, or tank tops might be causing people to diet and exercise so they can feel confident with their bodies in more revealing fashions. However, genetics and a person’s age can make it hard for them to meet their body goals. When diet and exercise have failed, plastic surgery could be an ideal option for achieving your desired physique. With so many new advancements in body contouring, an individual can get the body they want when at-home efforts are ineffective.

Your Body Contouring Options

There are several plastic surgeries a person can undergo to correct certain characteristics that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. Dr. Wald offers a variety of body contouring procedures at his practice. Here are some of the options available:

• Tummy tuck surgery: Postpartum patients and people who have lost a significant amount of weight often find it difficult to target unwanted fat and skin in the stomach area. Tummy tuck surgery is designed to eliminate excess abdominal fat and skin and tighten the abdominal muscles to create a slimmer, more defined waistline.

• Liposuction: Stubborn fat accumulations are a common problem for all different types of individuals. Liposuction can be performed on any area of the body that has unwanted pockets of resistant fat.

• Breast lift surgery: Aging, genetics, weight loss, and many other factors can contribute to breast sagging and laxity. Breast lift surgery can be performed to restore the breasts to a more youthful position by lifting the breast tissue.

• Breast augmentation: Lack or loss of breast volume is not something that can be corrected with diet and exercise. Breast augmentation can alter the shape or size of the breasts using saline or silicone breast implants.

Whether you want to get rid of excess fat or correct the appearance of the breasts, Dr. Wald can help you achieve your desired look. Patients can choose to undergo one or a combination of body contouring procedures depending on their body and goals. Those who are apprehensive about a surgical procedure may be candidates for some of our non-surgical techniques. SculpSure® is an ideal option for those who do not want to or cannot undergo surgery. With minimal downtime and pain, SculpSure® can flush out and destroy fat cells to create a smoother, thinner waistline.

If diet and exercise have failed to help you get beach ready, you might be interested in one of our body contouring options. Schedule your consultation with Dr. Wald today! He is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has the experience and skills to help you achieve your body goals. Contact us by calling (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 18th, 2017 at 7:46 pm and is filed under Breast Augmentation, Brow Lift, Liposuction, SculpSure®, Tummy Tuck.

Although they are a wonderful gift, a lot of sacrifices come with having children. A woman’s entire life changes when she decides to start a family. Among the most frustrating transformations involves her body. Pregnancy and breastfeeding wreak havoc on the physique; the stomach expands to make room for a growing baby, the body begins to develop excess fat, and the breasts change in size as they start to produce milk for breastfeeding. After childbirth, the body might not revert to its original, pre-baby state. Many women find that diet and exercise fail to address these inevitable changes. Mommy Makeover surgery is an ideal option many mothers consider.

What Can I Achieve With Mommy Makeover Surgery?

A Mommy Makeover combines procedures for postpartum body contouring. Breast and body procedures can help a woman to reverse the effects of pregnancy to create firmer, more youthful contours. Depending on the characteristics that need to be addressed, Dr. Wald can create an individual surgery plan for your Mommy Makeover.

Rejuvenate Sagging Breasts and Loss of Fullness

The breasts are completely different following pregnancy. Once a woman is finished breastfeeding, she might start losing the volume and shape of the breasts she once had. Breast lift surgery is an ideal procedure performed to restore lost skin elasticity that causes the breasts to sag (ptosis) by lifting them into a more youthful position.

Increase the Size and Improve the Shape of the Breasts

Some women will lose a significant amount of breast volume after pregnancy and notice they no longer have the large, full breasts that they once had. Breast augmentation surgery is designed to change the size and shape of the breasts by inserting saline or silicone implants. With so many breast implant types and incision options, a woman can have breasts that uniquely fit with the rest of her body. Breast lift surgery is commonly combined with breast augmentation to create larger breasts while correcting ptosis.

Flatten the Abdomen and Restore the Abdominal Muscles

A developing baby needs room for growth. The stomach expands throughout pregnancy and often results in weak abdominal muscles, excess tissue, and stretch marks. Abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is designed to restore the abdominal muscles and get rid of the belly “pooch.” An incision is made from hip bone to hip bone just above the pubic line. Through the incision, fat is excised, and weak abdominal muscles are tightened and sutured together. Excess skin is removed, resulting in a reduction in stretch marks. Patients are happy with their slimmer, more toned abdomen.

Remove Unwanted Fatty Tissue

In addition to abdominal fat, many mothers gain excess bulges in other areas of their bodies. Even with a regular diet and exercise routine, unwanted fat is often unresponsive. Liposuction can be performed on any area of the body. Commonly, post-pregnancy women address the stomach, love handles, thighs, and hips. Liposuction involves the removal of excess fatty tissue using a cannula hooked up to a vacuum device. Many tummy tuck patients also undergo liposuction to help them achieve an overall better shape in the abdominal area.

If you are ready to get your pre-baby body back, Dr. Wald can help! He can evaluate your body and goals to help you decide on the right procedure for you. Schedule your consultation by calling us at (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 14th, 2017 at 6:52 pm and is filed under Abdominoplasty, Breast Augmentation, Breast Lift, Liposuction, Mommy Makeover, Tummy Tuck.

An abdomen that lacks definition and tone can prevent men and women from feeling comfortable and confident in their bodies. For many people, traditional diet and exercise cannot correct all of their abdominal problems. It is common to become discouraged when your hard effort stops yielding the results you desire. Dr. Wald offers a variety of procedures to treat common issues that are preventing you from having the abdominal contour you desire.

Reasons You Lack Abdominal Definition

A lack of abdominal definition is caused by excess fat, excess skin, or a combination of the two. The severity of your excess tissue will determine which procedure is best suited for you. Localized fat around the abdomen, especially in patients who work out, can be caused by a genetic predisposition to store fat in the abdomen. Recent weight loss can cause skin laxity and excess tissue to develop.

Creating Abdominal Definition

Dr. Wald undergoes a thorough consultation with all of his patients to determine which abdominal contouring procedure is best suited for them. While each patient is unique, these are general guidelines to help determine which procedure is best for you.

Minimal Fat and Minor Laxity

Patients with stubborn fat deposits and minor laxity issues can benefit from SculpSure®. As a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment, SculpSure® eliminates unwanted fat from the abdomen, love handles, thighs, and back. In addition to fat elimination, SculpSure® can also promote skin tightening in patients with minor laxity issues.

Excess Fat and Skin

Following pregnancy and weight loss, patients are likely to have excess skin on the abdomen that prevents from having the contour they desire. Tummy tuck surgery is ideal for patients who require more extensive contouring because of redundant folds of skin. Women post-pregnancy may benefit most from tummy tuck surgery because the abdominal muscles can be tightened during the procedure.

No matter the reason for your lack of abdominal definition, Dr. Wald has a treatment for you. Schedule your consultation today. Call us at (714) 312-3549 or contact us online.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 27th, 2016 at 9:19 pm and is filed under Body Contouring, Body Procedures, SculpSure®, Tummy Tuck.

Many people want to sculpt and define their bodies but are apprehensive about undergoing a surgical procedure such as liposuction or tummy tuck surgery. We all live busy lives but still want to look good while doing it. However, surgery involves a lot of downtime and pain, which requires many patients to take too much time off from work. Most people do not have the time to take away from their hectic schedules. One of the latest innovative laser technologies is SculpSure®. Like liposuction, SculpSure® can sculpt the body and remove excess fat while defining its contours. However, SculpSure® provides similar results without the surgery or any incisions. Patients can achieve a tighter, better-toned body without the long recovery and anesthesia risks.

No Downtime or Pain With SculpSure®

SculpSure® is a state-of-the-art controlled light-based technology that offers convenient and comfortable body contouring. It is an ideal procedure for those looking to remove stubborn pockets of excess fat that are unresponsive to diet and exercise. SculpSure® can be performed in-office within 25 minutes; most people are in and out of the treatment in less time than they take for their lunch break. Offering no downtime or pain, SculpSure® can treat multiple anatomical areas during the same treatment session.

SculpSure® Treatment Areas:

• Abdomen
• Flanks
• Love handles
• Muffin tops

How Does SculpSure® Work?

Prior to SculpSure® treatment, the target area(s) are marked. A customized application pattern is applied to the treatment area. Applicators are snapped into the frame and deliver laser energy to permanently destroy the targeted fat cells. Patients will feel a cooling sensation throughout the treatment to keep them comfortable.

The body will naturally absorb and remove the fat cells over the next six weeks. Complete results can be seen within 12 weeks. The number of treatments needed will depend on the amount of excess fat that is in the target area(s). Typically, most patients require two to four treatments for optimal results.

Patients are able to get up and go about their normal day immediately following treatment. Overall, they will be satisfied with their slimmer, natural-looking appearance without any surgery or downtime.

If you are interested in SculpSure®, Dr. Wald can provide you with more information during a consultation. You can contact us by calling  (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 19th, 2016 at 8:00 am and is filed under Liposuction, Non-Surgical Procedures, SculpSure®, Tummy Tuck.