Hi everyone! My name is Lisa and I’m the patient care coordinator at Robert Frank MD Plastic Surgery.  I’m here to answer all your questions throughout your transformation process.  Some questions patients ask on a regular basis include:

• What can I expect pre/post op?
• What should I have ready at home after the surgery?
• What can make a plastic surgery candidate unfit for a procedure?
• How long will the process take?
• When can I go back to work?

I hope to answer these and more with my monthly blog posts.  If there’s something I haven’t covered, please feel free to email me lisa.robertfrankmd@gmail.com.  So without further ado, let’s talk about some general items to remember on the day of and days after your abdominoplasty.

Day of Surgery

 
On the day of your surgery please do not wear the following:

• Wigs
• Hairpins
• Hairpieces
• Jewelry
• Contact lenses
• Dentures
• Nail polish
• Make up

You may see patients on television wearing makeup and jewelry, but that is not a best practice. Dr. Frank needs to use signs from your body along with monitoring devices to make sure you’re stabilized while under anesthesia.  Wigs, jewelry, and even nail polish can obstruct the surgical team during the procedure.

Also, make sure you’re wearing loose-fitting, comfortable clothes.  This is very important because a compression garment will be placed on during surgery along with drains to help with post-operative swelling.  The garment must remain on so your clothes need to fit comfortably over it.

Last but not least, make sure someone is available to take you home from the surgical center.  The anesthesia and procedure itself came make you rather soar and exhausted, so make sure you plan your ride home ahead of time.

At Home After Surgery

 
After your abdominoplasty, we want you looking and feeling great as soon as possible so keep the following in mind while you’re resting at home.

• Drains: You will need to measure the volume of retained drains every 24 hours and care for them as instructed by Dr. Frank.  You will also need to bring in your total of volume to your follow-up visit.  The drains should be removed within 2 weeks in most cases.  In the case that your drain tube falls out please do not insert the tube back in and contact our office

• Diet: You are welcome to resume your regular diet, just try to reduce your sodium intake.

• Garment: The compression garment should be worn AT ALL TIMES.  Dr. Frank will let you know when the compression garment can be taken off.

• Medication: Medication should be taken carefully and as directed.

• Sleeping:  Avoid sleeping on your stomach until all the soreness has subsided.  You may find sleeping on 3 pillows and/pr 2 pillows under your knees may be comforting.

• Activity: Take it easy! It’s important to refrain from any strenuous activities for at least 2 weeks after surgery.  Gradually work back up to pre-surgical activities after 2 weeks.

• General:  Swelling and bruising are completely normal following surgery.  Bruising could be apparent for as long as 1-2 months afterward.  Patients may experience numbness of the abdominal and as sensation returns you may feel tingling.

• Contact Our Office:  If you have any of the following after taking your medication, please contact our offices:
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Rash
• Shortness of breath
• Diarrhea

If you develop a fever (oral temperature greater than 101), redness or increased pain at the surgical incisions, please call our office immediately.

Keep in mind that every patient is different and some of these guidelines can vary based on Dr. Frank’s recommendations.  If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below or email at lisa.robertfrankmd@gmail.com.