A body lift is a major surgery that will require a time for recovery. It is imperative that instructions from the doctor be followed to the letter to ensure a healthy recovery. Most patients will remain in the hospital for at least three days after a body lift, but the recovery and treatment at home could last for weeks.
Prepare Before Surgery
After a body lift, rest is one of the main components of a good recovery. Prepare in advance by stocking your cabinets with healthy foods for after the surgery. It is also a good idea to prepare some healthy meals in advance and put them in the freezer for quick meal preparation.
Get all of your laundry done in advance and have some comfortable loose fitting clothing ready for you to wear around the house while you are recovering.
There should be someone available to help during a recovery from a body lift, as well. In the days immediately after the surgery when you return home, you should not be alone. Pain medication will be prescribed after surgery. The drainage tubes that will remain when you return from the hospital must be monitored for at least two weeks.
First Two Weeks
The first two weeks after your body lift are the most difficult part of the recovery. The doctor will leave in drain tubes, sutures will still be in place and there is likely to be significant pain in these locations. Take the medications that are prescribed for pain.
The doctor may recommend you take short walks to help your body return to normal. In the first few days after the surgery, it will be difficult to stand without pain. Take it easy and only walk for a few minutes at a time until you have increased your range of motion.
Use the compression garment at all times until the doctor tells you that it no longer has to be worn. The compression garment will reduce the amount of swelling.
A healthy diet is vital to your recovery. Make sure that you are following any special diet that is given to you by the doctor.
Normal Activities
It will be four to six weeks before you are able to return to normal activities. It may be six to eight weeks before you are able to return to a normal workout routine. Most people are able to return to work after three weeks as long as restrictions are followed while at work.
During the recovery process, the swelling will go down and the scars will begin to shrink and fade. Scars from a body lift will never completely go away, but you should care for your skin so that they heal as well as possible with lotions and vitamin E oil.
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