Dr. Yuan Cosmetic Surgery
Phone: 610-850-4470 | Fax: 484-752-4078
Post-Abdominoplasty Instructions
What Are My Post-Operative Instructions?
- Have an adult drive you home after surgery and assist you for 1–2 days.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Prevent constipation: This may result from reduced activity, pain medications, or dehydration. Walk regularly, drink fluids, eat a balanced diet, and consider adding raw fruit. Your doctor may prescribe a stool softener. Call our office if constipation becomes a concern.
- Avoid soda for 2 weeks.
- Do not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products unless approved by your surgeon.
- Resume vitamins with iron as tolerated.
- Do not smoke for at least 1 month, including vaping. Smoking is one of the leading causes of delayed healing.
What Should My Activity Level Be?
- Start walking as soon as possible to reduce swelling, prevent blood clots or pneumonia, and improve bowel function.
- Do not drive until you regain full arm mobility and are able to stop or swerve safely—typically about 4 weeks post-op.
- Avoid lifting anything over 5 pounds for 6 weeks (unless modified by your physician).
- Resume sexual activity when comfortable, typically 2–3 weeks after surgery.
- Avoid straining abdominal muscles. Strenuous activity and exercise are restricted for 8 weeks.
- Expect to return to work within 2–4 weeks.
Dr. Yuan Cosmetic Surgery
Phone: 610-850-4470 | Fax: 484-752-4078
Post-Abdominoplasty Instructions
What Are My Post-Operative Instructions?
- Have an adult drive you home after surgery and assist you for 1–2 days.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Prevent constipation: This may result from reduced activity, pain medications, or dehydration. Walk regularly, drink fluids, eat a balanced diet, and consider adding raw fruit. Your doctor may prescribe a stool softener. Call our office if constipation becomes a concern.
- Avoid soda for 2 weeks.
- Do not take aspirin or aspirin-containing products unless approved by your surgeon.
- Resume vitamins with iron as tolerated.
- Do not smoke for at least 1 month, including vaping. Smoking is one of the leading causes of delayed healing.
What Should My Activity Level Be?
- Start walking as soon as possible to reduce swelling, prevent blood clots or pneumonia, and improve bowel function.
- Do not drive until you regain full arm mobility and are able to stop or swerve safely—typically about 4 weeks post-op.
- Avoid lifting anything over 5 pounds for 6 weeks (unless modified by your physician).
- Resume sexual activity when comfortable, typically 2–3 weeks after surgery.
- Avoid straining abdominal muscles. Strenuous activity and exercise are restricted for 8 weeks.
- Expect to return to work within 2–4 weeks.
Post-Op Wound Care
- You may shower after 2–5 days, even with drainage tubes in place (depending on mobility).
- Pat the incision dry with a towel and allow it to air dry before reapplying the sponge over the incision.
- Pack the new umbilicus with Vaseline and sponge as instructed.
- Avoid sun exposure to scars for at least 12 months.
- Use a strong sunscreen (SPF 30+) if sun exposure is unavoidable.
- Keep incisions clean and check daily for signs of infection.
- No tub soaking while drains are in place or before the incision is fully healed.
- Wear your compression garment or abdominal binder 24/7 for 6 weeks, or as instructed.
- Apply soft dressing over incisions and around drain sites daily to wick moisture and prevent garment irritation.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated and pillows under your knees to reduce tension on the incision.
How Should I Expect to Feel?
- Pain after surgery is expected, even with medication—this is normal.
- You will receive a prescription for strong pain medicine (typically lasting up to 5 days).
- Pain will be evaluated at your first follow-up; alternative medications may be prescribed if needed.
- Do not drive while taking narcotic pain medications unless advised otherwise.
- Temporary soreness, bruising, swelling, and tightness in the abdomen and incision area are normal.
- Most discomfort improves after a few days.
- Swelling and bruising typically subside within 4–6 weeks.
- You may feel fatigued for several days or longer.
What Will It Look Like?
- Your abdomen will feel firmer and appear more contoured.
- You may walk slightly bent forward initially and gradually resume a normal posture over 2 weeks.
- Keep steri-strips on as directed.
- Scars will appear red for about 6 months, then gradually soften and fade.
- The incision scar typically runs from hipbone to hipbone, low on the abdomen, or longer depending on the procedure.
What Follow-Up Care Will I Receive?
- A follow-up appointment for drain removal will be scheduled when drainage is less than 30 ml over 24 hours for 2 consecutive days or after one week, whichever comes first.
When Should I Call My Doctor?
- Increased swelling or bruising
- Redness along the incision
- Severe or worsening pain not relieved by medications
- Yellow, green, or foul-smelling drainage from incisions
- Oral temperature over 101.4°F (38.5°C)
- Bleeding from incisions not controlled by light pressure
- Side effects from medications such as rash, nausea, vomiting, headache, or severe constipation
Who Should I Call If I Have Questions?
Clinic Phone: (610) 850-4470
For questions and prescription refills, please contact us during business hours:
Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.After Hours or Weekends: Call (610) 850-4470 ext. #3 to reach Dr. Yuan directly.
