Post-Op Care

You should not be in excessive pain, so call our office 24/7 if you are having uncontrolled pain. The worst pain is usually experienced in the first 24-48 hours. After your procedure, you will be provided with pain medication guidelines or prescriptions. We recommend following the instructions to keep your pain managed. An ice pack can also be helpful for reducing swelling, bruising, and pain.

If a drain was necessary for your procedure, you will likely have it for the first 5-10 days. The drain is designed to manage the fluid coming from your surgical site. The bulb of your drain should be secured to your clothing or the abdominal binder with a safety pin. Whenever the bulb is 50% full, open the top of the bulb and empty it without removing the bulb from the tubing. Squeeze the bulb to recompress it before you close the top. If your bulb is refilling too quickly or you are collecting 100cc or more of bloody liquid in a single drain every hour for more than two hours, call us right away.

Wound care instructions will vary based upon your procedure. Generally speaking, most wounds should be left alone for the first 24 hours. Keeping wounds clean and dry is important regardless of your procedure.

If you have excessive pain or swelling after your procedure, call our office 24/7. We are standing by to make sure that you are okay.

You should try to rest and relax for at least the first 48 hours after your procedure. Patients should not drive for 5-7 days after having general anesthesia or IV sedation. You should also refrain from driving while on prescription pain pills. Smoking limits your capillary flow, so we advise you to stop smoking for the 10 days after your procedure. Alcohol can increase postoperative bleeding and be dangerous when combined with prescription pain pills.

After your incision has healed, you can massage the scar with Bio-oil, Aquaphor, petroleum jelly, silicone gel, or vitamin E. Keeping your skin well-hydrated is important for encouraging collagen production and reducing scarring.

Healing your past body image issues may take time after your procedure. We encourage you to be patient with your healing process and talk through your feelings. Our staff is standing by to provide support if you need us.