Mommy Makeover: 3 Ways To Prep Before Your Tummy Tuck
Giving birth to each one of your children was a special experience, yet you can't help but look forward to finally fixing the remnants left behind by pregnancy. Now that your family is complete, a tummy tuck is definitely on the agenda. As you look forward to your surgery, use these tips to breeze through your recovery.
Choose the Right Date
The nice thing about a tummy tuck is that you have more flexibility with your scheduling. Since you may not be up to your normal tasks immediately after the surgery, try to schedule it for a time when you have fewer responsibilities. For example, planning your surgery for a school vacation time will allow you to avoid driving for the first few days.
Stock Up the Fridge
Your tummy tuck surgeon will give you a list of discharge instructions before you head home, but you should expect to avoid heavy lifting for the first several days to weeks. For this reason, stocking up on groceries will ensure that you have the nutrition you need for healing without sacrificing your safety by lugging big bags of produce home. If you have time, make a few freezer meals that will get you by until you are feeling up to cooking.
Ditch the Bad Habits
For the best results with your tummy tuck, it is best if your body is in top condition. Nicotine interferes with healing, so stop smoking for at least two weeks before your surgery to make sure that it has cleared. Alcohol and over-the-counter pain relievers can also thin your blood. Ask your surgeon for a list of medications that you should stop before your surgery date, and be sure to let them know what you take regularly.
Prepare Mentally
Although you look forward to having a new body, it is important to go into surgery with realistic expectations. During your initial consultation, your surgeon should explain to you what to expect based upon your unique body composition. Use this as a guide, and remember that it is common to have excess fluids build up near your surgery site for the first several days. Being mentally prepared to not see the results until the healing process is over will help you relax once you get home from surgery.
When you know that your family is finally complete, it is time to get your body back. Tummy tucks are a favorite choice among moms who simply need to tighten things back up after all of that pregnancy stretching. By going into your surgery knowing that you have prepped well beforehand, you can look forward to enjoying the results in the weeks up ahead. For more information, contact a clinic like Renaissance Center For Facial & Body Sculpting.