Abdominoplasty can benefit eligible patients who want to improve their abdominal firmness and remove extra skin. However, there is always a recovery period, which is crucial for your body to relax, recover, and form the scar tissue essential for healing. Sleep is particularly crucial for your body’s healing.
Sleeping after abdominoplasty plays a big part in your recovery – not just how much you sleep, but how you sleep. Certain instructions will be given by your plastic surgeon to help you recover, and this includes your sleep position and elevation. A conscientious and skilled surgeon, such as Brisbane Plastic Surgeon Dr Andrew Broadhurst, will be happy to guide you through your recovery.
How extensive is abdominoplasty surgery?
The length of your recovery largely depends on the details of your procedure and which type of surgery you get. There are different types of abdominoplasty surgeries, and some are more extensive than others. These include:
- Mini abdominoplasty – This is the least extensive type of abdominoplasty, but nevertheless, there is still a recovery period involved. The procedure involves a smaller incision and does not target the underlying abdominal muscles.
- Traditional or ‘full’ abdominoplasty – This is the standard procedure, which involves a horizontal incision across the lower part of the abdomen. It sometimes involves tightening the muscles.
- Extended abdominoplasty – This targets not just the lower abdomen but also the hip area with an extended incision.
- Fleur de lis abdominoplasty – This procedure involves two incisions to address a larger abdominal area. There is one horizontal incision and one vertical.
Choosing a procedure that fits within your goals is the first step towards your surgery. It will impact all the other details of your surgical experience, including how extensive the surgery is, the costs, the risks, and how long it will take to recover. These decisions will be made in collaboration with Dr Broadhurst, who can advise which procedure may work for you and what to expect consequently from the recovery.
Additionally, the extensiveness depends on whether you choose to combine abdominoplasty with another procedure, such as breast surgery in a post-pregnancy procedure.
The importance of sleeping after abdominoplasty
After surgery, your body will need adequate time to rest, which means you’ll need to plan to take a break from your usual routines and responsibilities. Schedule time off work, and take time away from activities such as house chores and exercise, especially during the initial stage of recovery. Depending on the type of abdominoplasty you undergo, you might be advised to avoid strenuous activities for six weeks.
Getting a good night’s rest is important and can make all the difference when your body is trying to recover. Make sure you prioritise rest by:
- Organising support, such as a friend or family member, during your recovery
- Preparing pre-cooked meals and other conveniences
- Avoiding putting pressure on your incisions
- Staying hydrated and eating a healthy diet to ensure your body is well-fuelled
- Avoiding any strain on your abdominal muscles
Wearing the appropriate clothing can also help your body during your rest and recovery time. This means you should be conscious of the clothing you’re sleeping in. How comfortable is it? How loose is it? Does it put pressure on your incisions? The clothing you wear to bed should be comfortable and breathable enough that it doesn’t interfere with your incision site. Anything that pulls or puts pressure on your abdomen could have a negative effect on your surgical site and how your scars develop. So, loose, comfy clothing is best.
You might have some discomfort in the days after your surgery, but this can be managed with pain medication prescribed by Dr Broadhurst.
How should you sleep after abdominoplasty?
After your abdominoplasty surgery, Dr Broadhurst will advise you to sleep in a more elevated position than usual. This means you will need to prop yourself more upright so that you’re not lying all the way down flat. You can do this on a recliner or up on extra pillows.
Patients will also need to sleep on their backs. If you are a side sleeper or front sleeper, this can take a little bit of practice, but over time, sleeping on your back should start to feel more comfortable. It’s important to stick to back-sleeping throughout recovery, as it avoids putting any pressure on your incisions and helps your skin settle into place. Whereas, if pressure is put on the abdomen due to unadvised sleeping positions, it can lead to concerns about healing irregularities and other complications.
Dr Broadhurst performs abdominoplasty surgery in Brisbane
If you are concerned about sleeping after abdominoplasty surgery, you are welcome to raise any concerns with Dr Broadhurst at your consultation. Dr Broadhurst and his team take care to guide patients through each step of planning, surgery, and aftercare, answering any questions you may have along the way. For more information on recovery after abdominoplasty, contact Brisbane Plastic Surgeon.
