Post Tummy tuck - what should I expect?

Hi,

For those of you who did a tummy tuck, how long did it take for the swelling to come down. 

I am 2.5 weeks post op still have one drain in which I hope will be removed in 6 days. 

Just wondering if you can share your experiences with respect to the healing process.

Oh, and how long did you wait before having sex? 

Thanks,

Zmimshen

I had a friend that had it done a few yrs ago, she told me 6 months for her.  She was frustrated.  Did you have yours covered by OHIP?  I would love to get it done but not sure what the guideline is.

I had TT on 6/6 with implants and lipo in 3 areas. I am doing great! I wear the compression garment as instructed and use the binder when I'm having a "rough" day. I only swell when I have a vigorous day. 2nd week after surgery, I walked 5 miles on the beach and had very little swelling. I am just over 4 weeks today and worked in my yard for a few hours. I ended up swelling quite a bit, so put on my binder for a few hours and took it easy for the rest of the day. I've learned that as long and I don't do anything too vigorous, and wear the garment, I do not swell at all really. Good luck!

The most important thing to do is be sure the drains are REALLY ready to be removed.  I had my first TT done and they removed the drains too early; I ended up with an infection and then a wound vac for quite a while.  Not to mention I was hospitalized 2x.  When I went in (the a different doctor, of course) to have it revised, it was a much smoother process and healing was better and the scar is magnificent!  All in all you are down the first 7-10 days and as long as the drains are in, you are limited.  Once they are removed, things move along better. 

Good luck.

JA

I had my tt done November 21st and I still swell, usually late in the day. You will swell fir sometime yet.

Sex, I can't remember honestly, it wasn't too far post op, take it slow. I think I was told to wait six weeks but I assure you we didn't wait that long. Now, sex it's incredible! 

My waist was 27 inches pre-lbl. Immediately post-op, it was 31 inches. I lost 3 of those inches the first month. It too****il the 6 month mark to lose the last inch. My waist never got below my original 27 inches, but still so incredibly thankful to be rid of the skin.

I waited about 5 weeks to have sex, but my boyfriend lives out of town so the wait was easy for me 

Most of the swelling went down in around 90 days... at 6 months barely any swelling, but I believe they tell you a full year to heal.

I had my first TT done and they uprooted the channels too soon; I wound up with a disease and after that an injury vac for a long time. Also I was hospitalized 2x. When I went in (the an alternate specialist, obviously) to have it changed, it was a much smoother process and mending was better and the scar is grand! With everything taken into account you are down the initial 7-10 days and the length of the channels are in, you are restricted. When they are evacuated, things move along better.