Question:
Post op tummy tuck help
I'm three and a half weeks out from my abdominoplasty & have a few questions.. How long did you continue to wear a binder? Mine is losing much of its shape (it rolls down all the time)& I'm wondering if I should pick up a new one or if I won't need to wear it that much longer. Also, how long did it take for the swelling & excess fluid to go away so you were able to see your final results? Did many of you use Vit E or other products on you scar & if so, what did you use? Thanks. — Kathy W. (posted on April 28, 2002)
April 27, 2002
Kathy, I had to wear my binder for three weeks and then a tall girdle like
garment for three months. I had a panni so my muscles wear not touched
maybe this is why I didn't notice much swelling. My belly did start to
feel back to normal after a couple of months. The doctor did say it could
be six months before I saw the final results.
— Helen C.
May 28, 2002
You should ask your surgeon how long he'd like you to wear your binder.
There are some surgeons who don't require wearing of any binder for any
length of time and then there are surgeons that like to see their patients
wear a binder for as long as 6-8 weeks. I wore mine for 8 weeks...I had 2
different ones that I switched between so I could wash one while I was
wearing the other. One was provided, the other I bought. There are several
companies online that sell binders (www.marenagroup.com is one).
<br>
As for swelling and final results...that could take up to a year for
swelling to no longer be an issue and to see your final results. Some days
I'm quite swollen and other days I'm not. It does seem to help to drink
water and keep salt intake down, but then heavy exercise or activity will
increase the swelling. Be patient with your body as it heals!!<br>
You could also check with your PS about creams/products to use on your
scar. I think the biggest thing is to keep the skin
moisturized.<br>
Best wishes on your healing!
— Tricia I.
September 15, 2004
I had abdominoplasty on 8/12/04. I am still pretty swollen. Doc says I
might be for up to one year. He told me to wear the binder for three
months.
— Beth F.
September 15, 2004
I'd definitely run these questions by your doc first, of course. That
said, my PS was one of those who recommended wearing the binder for just a
week, but I'm a nervous wanna-be worry-wonk so based on my own reading
elsewhere, I bought a compression garment from veroniquedesigns.com that I
plan to wear during the day for the first three months post-op. (I'm 7
weeks post-op from the LBL now, the swelling has gone way down compared to
three weeks out but it's still there to some degree every day.) I also
bought a binder at the pharmacy; I wear it at night and at the gym, because
the one I came home with is too big and rolls down (like yours) and just
looks too *surgical* (read: the old blood stains still won't come out in
the wash, lol).<P>In the past I never bothered much with scar
treatments, but I'm giving Mederma a whirl this time because well, an LBL
with vertical incision is a whole lotta scar, and I want to feel that I at
least tried something on it. (Come to think of it though, I used Vitamin E
for a couple of months on one of my other scars, which happened to keloid,
and it faded eventually -- on the other hand there are other scars I used
nothing on and whether or not they keloided, they *all* faded eventually n
no matter what I did. I think it's all so individual it's hard to say
what's worth doing and what isn't? I dunno. Anyway, I can't say yet
whether Mederma is worth it 'cause I'm just seven weeks post-op at this
point, but the manufacturer recommends using it on a fresh scar for the
first 8 weeks post-op. It's expensive, though, especially with big scars!
— Suzy C.
September 15, 2004
I think every plastic surgeon has a different idea on the post op
treatment. I did not have a binder or any support garment for the first two
weeks. Then my PS told me to find a support garment that I felt comfortable
in and wear that during the day. So, I found some high waisted panty
girdles that I really like and are comfortable. I have some sweeling in my
upper thighs and abdomen,especially at the end of the day (I have a desk
job). I am about 6 weeks post-abdominoplasty. I am using a scar gel on my
incision and my new belly button twice a day, but I usually don't have real
visible scars, so it's not a big deal to me. (Had a partial thyroidectomy 4
years ago and the scar is not visible.) I personally did not use anything
other than soap and water on my incision until it was completely healed.
It's probably best to ask you PS what to do.
— koogy
January 11, 2005
i was told to wear the binder for 6 weeks then wean myself off and only
have it on at night. portsmouth gave me a second one because my other was
so stretched out. you should ask your doctor what he would suggest. but me
myself i would wear it for the 6 weeks. i am 5 weeks post op tt and arm
lift. good luck.
— Barbara M.
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