Tips To Sleep After Tummy Tuck Surgery Comfortably

When it comes to recovery after tummy tuck surgery, comfort and safety are key. While minimizing strenuous physical activity and taking care of your incisions are important, they are not the only aspects of tummy tuck recovery you’ll need to prepare for. Use these helpful tips from the caring team at SSK Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach, CA, including acclaimed board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Kelishadi, to better understand what to expect after tummy tuck surgery, including how you may need to adjust your sleeping position as you heal.

What happens during tummy tuck surgery?

Tummy tuck surgery is a highly beneficial body contouring procedure that aims to reshape the abdomen and reverse the unwanted side effects of pregnancy, extreme weight loss, or aging. During the procedure, which typically takes about 2 – 3 hours to complete, patients are placed under general anesthesia. To begin, Dr. Kelishadi makes an incision on the patient’s lower midsection. Depending on the patient’s specific concerns, tummy tuck surgery may include one or more of the following techniques:

• Skin removal
• Skin tightening
• Muscle tightening/reinforcement
• Hernia repair
• Diastasis recti repair
• Moving the belly button
• Liposuction fat removal

In addition, many patients choose to incorporate tummy tuck into a larger procedure, such as after weight loss surgery or mommy makeover surgery, to achieve a more complete, full-body transformation.

At the conclusion of the case, Dr. Kelishadi will pull the remaining abdominal skin taut and secure, and close the incision with sutures.

What will I feel like after tummy tuck?

Patients considering tummy tuck surgery should have realistic expectations regarding downtime and understand that tummy tuck may have a lengthier recovery period than some other procedures. In the first several days after tummy tuck, patients can expect some amount of discomfort, swelling, and limited mobility. Patients will need to walk with their upper body bent forward at a slight angle to avoid pulling on their incision and sutures. On average, patients take about 2 – 3 weeks off of work after tummy tuck surgery. More strenuous physical activity, including exercise, may be off-limits for up to 6 – 8 weeks or longer. The abdomen will likely feel tight for several weeks or months, but this sensation should subside over time as the body continues to heal.

How should I sleep after tummy tuck surgery?

During tummy tuck recovery, patients should plan to sleep on their back with their upper body slightly elevated. Just like walking at a slight bend, this modified sleeping position minimizes tension on the tummy tuck incision, reduces discomfort, and encourages proper healing and attractive results. Many patients choose to sleep in a recliner in the initial stages of recovery to prevent inadvertently shifting positions while sleeping. It may be several weeks or months before patients are able to safely resume sleeping on their stomach or side. While this may sound challenging, most men and women find back-sleeping to be most comfortable during tummy tuck recovery.

With Newport Beach tummy tuck surgery, you can finally have the body of your dreams!

Are you ready to finally rid yourself of loose skin or stubborn fat and restore a slimmer, firmer, sexier figure? Join the many men and women who have realized their ultimate aesthetic goals with tummy tuck surgery in Newport Beach, CA. To learn more about abdominoplasty, including whether you may qualify for surgery, call the expert team at SSK Plastic Surgery to schedule your private consultation or virtual appointment with renowned board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Sean Kelishadi today!