5 Observations about Tummy Tucks in Raleigh North Carolina*

Here are few random observations about tummy tuck. 1. The best results occur with patients who maintain healthy diet and exercise regimen in the post operative period. 2. There is no ideal time of year to have a tummy tuck. While late fall and winter are the most popular months, everybody's schedule and lifestyle are different. Some women find that the summer is easier as their children are out of school. While others seek to be fully recovered for the summer so that they can go to the beach and pool with their new figure. 3. Massage is helpful and sessions with a licensed massage therapist are beneficial. Many patients can do this at home on their own after some initial teaching. 4. Recovery from tummy tuck occurs in many phases. The first 2 weeks are primarily homebound. The second 2 weeks involves returned to many day-to-day non-strenuous activities. Weeks 4-6-light exercise allowed. 5. Compression garments frequently need changing as swelling goes down -a slightly tighter fitting garment is helpful. This 49-year-old woman had 2 prior pregnancies and had gained weight after each. She has been involved in an exercise program to help lose weight and had been doing well but still had a BMI of 32. She did not expect to be slender but did not like her abdominal pannus and thick abdominal wall. She underwent a full abdominoplasty with some liposuction. She resumed most of her normal activities including playing sports after 3 months.