Abdominoplasty Recovery
Guidance for compression, drains, flexed positioning, incision care, walking, activity limits, and urgent warning signs after tummy tuck.
If something feels urgent, do not wait on this website.
Contact the clinical team promptly. For severe or rapidly worsening symptoms, use local emergency services or the nearest appropriate emergency department. This website is not monitored as an emergency service.
These are general instructions. Follow the written and verbal plan given for your own operation when it differs.
Start here
- Use these instructions as general guidance only. If your surgeon or clinic team gave you different instructions, follow the clinic instructions.
- Keep your follow-up appointment even if you feel well. Early review helps the clinic notice small issues before they become larger problems.
What is usually normal
- Tightness, swelling, bruising, numbness, tiredness, back strain from bent posture, and limited mobility are common early.
- Drainage may change from red to pink or yellow as healing progresses. Follow the clinic plan for measuring output.
Positioning
- Rest and sleep on your back with the upper body elevated and hips slightly flexed until the clinic tells you to straighten gradually.
- Avoid sudden stretching of the abdomen. Support your abdomen when coughing or changing position if instructed.
Compression and drains
- Wear the binder or compression garment exactly as directed. Smooth folds and avoid pressure points.
- If drains are present, empty, measure, and record them as taught. Keep bulbs compressed if that was part of your instruction.
Incision care and hygiene
- Keep dressings and strips as instructed. Do not apply creams or scar products until the clinic clears you.
- Shower only when cleared. Avoid baths, pools, hot tubs, and soaking until incisions and drain sites are healed.
Walking and activity
- Short, frequent walks are important as soon as you can do them safely. Move slowly and ask for help at first.
- Avoid heavy lifting, pushing, pulling, core exercise, and housework that strains the abdomen until cleared.
Call the clinic urgently
- Call if drain output suddenly becomes bright red, increases sharply, stops with new swelling, or the drain falls out.
- Call for wound opening, skin that turns dark or blistered, pus, bad odor, spreading redness, fever, chills, or worsening abdominal pain.
- Call urgently for vomiting that prevents fluids, calf pain or swelling, chest pain, shortness of breath, or severe weakness.
Emergency signs
- Seek emergency care now for chest pain, shortness of breath, fainting, severe uncontrolled bleeding, or a fast irregular heartbeat.
- Seek urgent care for new one-sided calf swelling, warmth, redness, or cramping, especially after body or breast surgery.
- After eye surgery or facial fillers, sudden vision change, severe eye pain, or stroke-like symptoms should be treated as an emergency.
Dr Aran Aso · +964 774 400 1515
https://aranaso.com/aftercare/abdominoplasty