What happens right after my tummy tuck or abdominoplasty surgery?
Immediately after surgery: In most cases, you can go home 2 hours after the surgery. Someone will need to drive you, because you will still be groggy from the anesthesia and you may experience some soreness around your incisions. Dr. Virginia will call you in the evening to see how you are doing. The first 24–48 hours: It is very important that someone stays with you for the first 48 hours. During that time, you will feel tired from the anesthesia, sore from the incisions, and you will need help taking your medication on time and getting food. You will have an ON–Q pain pump in place and the doctor will prescribe pain medication so that the soreness will not be excessive, but there will be some. You can take a shower on the second day after surgery, but don’t let the drains drop on the floor. Keep the ON–Q and the drains attached to your waist belt. You can remove your binder for the shower, but be sure to replace it right away and keep it on at all times—even while sleeping. You will
