Preparing for a Tummy Tuck
Tummy Tuck Dubai | 14 May 2019
Your surgeon will explain how to prepare for your operation. For example, if you smoke you will be asked to stop up to eight weeks before your surgery. Smoking increases your risk of getting a chest and wound infection, which can significantly slow your recovery. Coughing from a chest infection will make recovery much more painful. Smoking also reduces the amount of blood that reaches your skin, which means your wounds may heal more slowly.
Your surgeon may also advise you to:
– lose excess weight – you should be as close to the ideal weight for your height as possible before your operation
– stop taking the contraceptive pill four to six weeks before your operation, to reduce the chances of a blood clot (thrombosis) – make sure you use an alternative method of contraception
You have tummy tuck surgery under a general anaesthetic. This means you’ll be asleep during the operation. Before a general anaesthetic, you are normally asked not to eat or drink for six hours beforehand. Your surgeon or anaesthetist will give you specific advice on what you may or may not eat or drink and for how long before the operation.
Your surgeon will make sure you understand what will happen before, during and after your operation. They’ll also explain what to expect when you wake up and what level of discomfort or pain you might have. This is your opportunity to ask any remaining questions you have about the risks, benefits and alternatives to the procedure. This will help you to be informed, so you can give your consent for the operation to go ahead. You’ll be asked to sign a consent form. Your surgeon may ask you to wear compression stockings from the time of your operation until you are fully up and about again. This helps to prevent blood clots forming in the veins in your legs.