Post-operative : Abdominal Lipectomy
When you get home
You can expect to have some pain and feel that your abdomen is tight. To help you rest comfortably, follow these instructions:
- Take extra strength tylenol every 4 hours
- Take an anti-nausea medication such a gravol 30 minutes prior to taking your prescribed pain medication
- Take the pain medication as prescribed
- Take your antibiotics as prescribed
- Keep your garment on
- Stay in a semi sitting position (flexed) even when sleeping
- Empty your drains as was shown to your by the nurses
- Drink a lot of fluids
Please communicate with your local emergency department if you have:
- Fever over 38.5 Celsius
- Severe nausea or vomiting
- Hallucinations or unusual behavior
- Pain that is not controlled by medications
- Excessive bleeding or drainage from your incisions
- Pain or swelling of one calf
- Inability to urinate
The day after surgery
- You can expect that your pain will start diminishing at 48hours after
- Swelling may increase over the first two days
- You will need to remain in a flexed position for 5-7 days while your skin stretches
- The drains will need to be removed 5-7 days after surgery
Healing and follow up
- You will be swollen for 4-6 weeks
- You must continue to wear your garment during this time
- It is recommended to rest for at least 1-2 weeks
- You will have a follow up with Gdalevitch between 1 and 2 weeks
- You will not appreciate your final result for at least 2 months. Scars will continue to improve and fade over 1- 2 years
- You will not see the final result before 1 month. Scarring continues to improve for 6 months to a year.