Want to know how to sleep after tummy tuck surgery? After any type of surgical procedure, it’s important to take care of your sleeping positions so that you don’t disrupt your incision sites and treatment area. At the same time, getting restful sleep is critical for proper healing.
How to Sleep After a Tummy Tuck Surgery
On Your Back
Sleeping on your back is the best position after a tummy tuck to avoid putting pressure on your incision sites and stomach in general. This position helps reduce swelling and promotes optimal healing by keeping strain off the abdominal area.
Head and Upper Body Elevated
Elevating your head and upper body helps reduce swelling and fluid retention in the surgical area. This position also reduces the risk of straining your abdominal muscles when getting in and out of bed.
Slightly Bent at the Waist
Keeping your body in a slightly bent position (at the waist) while sleeping will help relieve tension on your incisions and prevent pulling on the sutures. This position promotes comfort while supporting the healing process, as lying completely flat may cause discomfort or increase tension on the surgical site.
With Protective Pillows or Wedges
Using protective pillows or wedges under your knees and back can help maintain the proper alignment and prevent shifting during sleep. These supports provide extra comfort and help you stay in a safe sleeping position throughout the night.
Comfortable Sleeping Position and Environment
Creating a comfortable sleep environment is crucial for getting a good night’s sleep, and getting a good night’s sleep is crucial for a good recovery. Therefore, ensure your bedding is soft, and the room is cool and quiet. Adjusting your sleep space to reduce discomfort will improve your overall rest, which is essential for proper healing after a tummy tuck.
More Tummy Tuck Recovery Tips
1. Take your pain medications as directed.
Some slight pain after tummy tucks is to be expected, so pain management will be important. Fortunately, pain medication can be prescribed.
This will help ease your comfort as you heal in those initial few days and weeks. Slowly, you should be able to stop taking these meds and resume your normal lifestyle.
2. Wear compression garments as directed.
After abdominoplasty surgery, wearing compression garments is required to help the skin and tissues stay in place as you heal. These garments can also help reduce swelling, and patients often say they like wearing them because it keeps everything together, and you feel less vulnerable as you recover.
3. Avoid sun exposure.
For the first few weeks of your recovery especially, make sure to avoid exposing your treatment sites (and, in particular, your incision sites) to the sun. This type of UV exposure can cause you to have more noticeable scars and may delay healing.
4. Use scar massage.
If indicated by your surgeon, scar massage can help to break up hard scar tissue and loosen the area so that it is smoother and bump-free. Make sure that you use the proper technique when doing this (talk to your surgeon first), and a safe, light oil or cream can help your hands move more easily over your skin.
5. Consider silicone scar sheets.
Silicone as an ingredient in scar creams or on “scar sheets” (which you place over your incision sites and leave for the day) have been proven to reduce the appearance of scars significantly. Silicone flattens, fades, and softens scars — sometimes to a degree where they are hardly noticeable.
FAQ: Tummy Tuck Healing Process
How do I know how to sleep after BBL and tummy tuck surgery?
Before moving on, it’s important to know that not every patient qualifies for a BBL and tummy tuck combination surgery. This is mainly because of the recovery period.
Some surgeons do not want to put a patient in the position of having to alleviate pressure on both the buttocks and the stomach area. This can be nearly impossible and even unsafe when it comes time to sleep. As a result, how to sleep after tummy tuck and BBL surgery may be a moot question.
If you are able to undergo this combination surgery, you may require additional help at home and specialized equipment to help you get a good night’s sleep without harming your incision sites and treatment areas.
Is mini tummy tuck recovery easier?
No, not necessarily. While the incision site is typically smaller for a mini tummy tuck when compared to a full tummy tuck, the overall tummy tuck procedure is very similar, which means the tummy tuck recovery process is also quite similar.
Request a Consultation Appointment with Dr. Diehl
Tummy tuck surgery can remove excess skin, get rid of stubborn fat, and tighten your abdominal muscles for a smoother, sleeker tummy. But making sure you get a restful night’s sleep is just one of the many things you’ll need to pay attention to during your recovery period.
To learn more about tummy tuck recovery and the procedure itself, please contact our office today and request a consultation with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Cynthia Diehl. We look forward to hearing from you!
