ABDOMINOPLASTY/FLANKPLASTY
The following instructions are provided to help you through the recovery process. Please review these carefully before your surgery and call our office at (865) 218-6210 should you have any questions before or after your surgery.
Discharge Instructions:
- Arrange for someone to drive you home and stay with you for the first night after your surgery.
- Do not smoke for 24 hours after surgery.
- Do not drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours after surgery or while taking prescribed narcotic medications.
- Resume a regular diet.
- Take prescribed medications as directed by Dr. Lucas.
- Limit torso movement and activity for first few days.
- After dressings are removed at the post-surgery appointment the following day, abdominal binder should be worn continuously until drains are removed.
- After drains are removed you may begin wearing a snug-fitting high rise girdle continuously for the next 4-5 weeks.
- Avoid strenuous exercise for six weeks, i.e., heavy lifting, running, sit-ups.
What to Expect After Surgery:
You may experience one or more of the following for up to six weeks after your surgery:
- Two drains in place for approximately one week
- Swelling and bruising
- Tightness in abdomen Tenderness around incision
- Back pain
- Red to yellow tinged drainage
- Fluid accumulation after drains have been removed
- Moderate pain controlled by prescribed analgesic
- Pain pump also will be in place for about three to four days to help minimize pain
- Low-grade fever
- Abdominal skin swelling
If you experience any of the following, call our office at (865) 218-6210: - Red, inflamed, painful incision
- Yellow or green drainage from incision area
- Excessive bleeding (blood soaked dressings or increasing amounts of bright red blood in drains)
- Severe pain not controlled by prescribed analgesic
- Fever greater than 101.5
- Nausea and/or vomiting
