Care of an Open Wound After a Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck, or an abdominoplasty, is a type of plastic surgery that tightens abdominal muscles and removes excessive abdominal fat and skin. Candidates for this surgery should expect to begin resuming normal activities in about a month, with full healing typically taking several months. After you have the tummy tuck, follow all of your doctor's instructions carefully. Wear your compression garment, or abdominal binder, and keep the wound clean and free of drainage fluids. Call your doctor immediately if you notice problems, like worsening pain, fever or excessive bleeding.

Things You'll Need

• Abdominal binder
• Dressings
• Soap
• Cotton swab
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Antibiotic ointment

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Instructions

• 1

  Notify the doctor if your drain tubes are not working properly. The drain bulb should have suction. When the drain bulb becomes full, empty it. Your nurse will show you exactly how to do this. Expect to have the drain tubes removed about one to two weeks after surgery.

• 2

  Bathe the day after surgery, if desired. You may remove the abdominal binder and the dressings. Avoid rubbing the incision site and thoroughly rinse all soap from the area.

• 3

  Change your dressings two to three times daily. When you remove the old dressings, moisten a cotton swab with hydrogen peroxide and gently cleanse the area around the incision.

• 4

  Apply antibiotic ointment to the incision area and apply fresh dressings. Replace your abdominal binder, which will help hold the dressings in place.

• 5

  Wear the abdominal binder and dressings constantly for three weeks, with the exception of bathing. Wear them for 12 hours daily on the fourth week.