If you have a tummy tuck approaching, one area that will require a little planning is figuring out how to achieve safe, healing sleep after your tummy tuck. A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty is a major surgery. Your body will need plenty of rest afterward to heal. For the first one to two weeks, your body will require you to refrain from standing up straight or sleeping stretched out in order to relieve the tension on your healing incision. This will be a little tricky but entirely doable, especially with a little prep beforehand. Here are our top safe sleep tips after tummy tuck:
- Know the safe sleep position for tummy tuck recovery.
- Lots of pillows!
- Sleep in a recliner.
- Ensure that you can sleep undisturbed after surgery.
- Practice your sleep position before your surgery.
Safe Sleep Tip #1: Know the Safe Sleep Position for Tummy Tuck Recovery
After your tummy tuck procedure, you’ll need to walk and sleep in a slightly bent position for the first week or two to allow your incision to heal. Bending slightly at the waist takes the pressure off the healing tissue, muscles, and sutures. Straightening too soon can put you at risk for bleeding, injury, and a widened scar.
The safest sleep position after tummy tuck is on your back, with your tummy and knees elevated, creating a v shape at your torso.
Safe Sleep Tip #2: Lots of Pillows!
Making sure you have a variety of pillows on hand, including a body pillow, will make all the difference when it comes to getting good, safe rest after your tummy tuck surgery. Before your surgery, experiment with your pillow collection to see what configuration will get you that perfect healing v shape.
One downside of using individual pillows is that they might slip out of place in the middle of the night, allowing you to turn over your side, which would pose a risk to your health and results. To combat this, you might consider investing in wedge pillows. Place a large wedge pillow on your bed with a smaller wedge pillow on the bottom to elevate your stomach and your knees. The wedge pillows should keep you from turning in the middle of the night, but extra pillows on either side can help keep you in place.
Safe Sleep Tip #3: Sleep in a recliner.
As an alternative to pillows, you can also try sleeping in a recliner. Reclining chairs easily place you in the optimal healing position and have the added benefit of preventing you from rolling over onto your side. With a recliner, you also won’t have to worry about pillows sliding out of place.
Safe Sleep Tip #4: Ensure that you can sleep undisturbed after surgery.
Everyone loves a good snuggle, whether it’s from your spouse, child, or pet. But as you heal from tummy tuck surgery, it’s essential to communicate to your friends-small, big, and furry–that you need your rest!
After your surgery, make sure you can sleep in a room that’s off-limits to pets and small children who might be inclined to climb up onto you at night. Getting climbed or even jumped on in the middle of the night could cause serious harm to your healing incision. If you have small children, let them know that for the time being, you need time to heal in bed alone. And if you have a snuggly spouse, he or she might need to give up their bed for the time being, too! It won’t be long before you’ll be as good as new, but this is an important time of healing for optimal results.
Safe Sleep Tip #5: Practice your sleep position before your surgery.
To help you get used to this sleep position before your surgery, try practicing it for the week or two leading up to your surgery date. This will help you train your body to fall asleep and stay asleep in the proper position, as well as troubleshoot any middle-of-the-night issues you might have. Practicing, too, will also help your family and pets get used to the new arrangement as well.
By the time your surgery rolls around, you’ll be a pro at sleeping (undisturbed) in the v shape!
Tummy Tucks in Madison, Wisconsin
If your tummy is looking more tired than taut, schedule your consultation today with Dr. Thomas Bartell. Dr. Bartell is the Madison area’s premier body recontouring surgeon, specializing in below-the-neck procedures, including tummy tucks in Madison, Wisconsin.
Dr. Bartell Body Recontouring Specialist
Safe Sleep Tips After Tummy Tuck brought to you by Dr. Thomas Bartell