When you have a lower body lift done, your body needs time to recover. The average recovery period is 6 to 8 weeks, but the final result may take a little longer. We often get questions about what you can and cannot do after surgery and how to promote recovery. Before surgery, the plastic surgeon will inform you in detail about recovery, risks and possible complications.

Overnight hospital stay

With a lower body lift, you will stay in the hospital for 2-3 nights. You also need to remain on bed rest at home for another 2 days.

Wearing a belly band

After surgery, your abdomen will be bandaged with a supportive elastic band. You may have some afterpain, especially if the abdominal wall muscle is also tightened. You’ll be given a belly band to wear day and night until six weeks after surgery. This stops swelling and fluid accumulation.

Drains

If necessary, drains (thin tubes) are placed after surgery to drain the wound fluid. If you go home with drains, they’re usually removed within two days. You will receive a call from the assistant at MOOI Clinic. You can expect this call starting at noon. If you do not receive a call, we may not be able to reach you, so please call the clinic. Until the drains are taken out, you should not shower! After the drains are removed, you may shower quickly.

Thrombosis

During this phase, you’ll receive injections to prevent thrombosis.

Painkillers and medication

If you feel lousy or your body is very painful, you may always take paracetamol and any additional painkillers prescribed by the doctor.
In consultation with the plastic surgeon, resume any blood thinners and other medications you were taking before surgery.

The first days after your lower body lift

After the surgery, you may have some post-operative pain, especially if the abdominal wall muscle is also tightened. We will check that everything is fine with you and after our plastic surgeon’s approval, you may go home. In order to obtain the most MOOI result and speed up your recovery, we recommend the following: (unless expressly stated otherwise by the plastic surgeon).

DON’T: DRIVE YOURSELF HOME

One thing you should not do immediately after surgery is get behind the wheel yourself. So make sure there is someone with you who can drive you home safely. Moreover, your abdomen and back will feel sore and tense, so you’ll prefer to move as little as possible. You should not drive a car for two weeks after surgery.

DO: REST A LOT

The first few days after your lower body lift you should take it easy, and be on real bed rest for the first two days. This applies to anyone who has had this surgery (major or minor). This means resting a lot and not doing (heavy) household chores such as laundry, vacuuming, etc. Is there someone who can cook delicious meals for you, help you get dressed and undressed or get up for you from time to time? After surgery, you may have trouble getting up and so it is useful to have someone around that can help you. Note! Resting does not mean lying in bed all day. Resting too much and too long is not good for your body either. Stretch your legs occasionally, even if it’s just a short walk from the toilet to the couch. Stick to short distances indoors.

DON’T DO IT RIGHT AWAY: SHOWERING AND BATHING

If you do not have drains, you may shower again 24 hours after surgery if you feel the need. If you do have drains, then you should wait to shower for a while anyway. It’s best to wait two days before showering again. Of course, you can freshen up your body with some warm water and a washcloth. However, you should not bathe for the first 6 weeks!

DON’T: SMOKING AND DRINKING ALCOHOL

Definitely don’t! Smoking adversely affects blood flow to the tissues, which is precisely what is important for proper recovery. We therefore recommend that you stop smoking weeks before and after treatment. It is also better not to smoke after treatment. This accelerates the aging process.

Do not use alcohol in the first week after treatment because of the risk of post-treatment bleeding.

DON’T: SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACH OR SIDE

Sleep with an extra pillow supporting your back so you lie a little more upright. For the first few weeks, do sleep completely flat on your back, and not on your side or your stomach.

Two weeks after your lower body lift

After 14 days you’ll start to feel a little better! However, your body is still recovering. In some patients, tightening the abdomen may still be painful. Swelling and fluid accumulation are also still common. You will come to MOOI Clinic for a check-up after two weeks.

SUTURES

Two weeks after the treatment, you will come for a check-up at MOOI Clinic. Sutures are removed and new suture patches are applied. Scars may be red for the first few months but that fades with time. Do not expose the scars to bright sunlight; this can cause permanent discoloration. Hematomas rarely occur. The assistant will give you instructions on aftercare and/or massaging the scars.

Two weeks after the procedure, you are allowed to do a little more again, but by no means everything! Always consult with the plastic surgeon.

YOU MAY DO THIS AGAIN:

• Driving
• Depending on your occupation, you may begin working again (sedentary)
• Walking and gentle movements
• If your recovery goes well, you may fly again after 2 weeks

YOU MAY NOT DO THIS YET:

• Taking the belly band off
• Sports, including swimming
• Heavy lifting or physically strenuous work
• Tanning, sauna or tanning bed

Six weeks after surgery

After six weeks, you’re usually well recovered from the surgery. The swelling has gone down considerably, but some swelling here and there due to fluid accumulation is normal. You may also feel another numb spot. That will go away in the coming weeks. Your scars are healed but still red. This too is normal and part of the normal process of wound healing. Most people can fully resume their normal lives after 6 weeks. You get to bathe, use a sauna and sleep the way you want again.

DO: SPORTS

Exercise is good for your body and after all those weeks of not exercising, maybe it’s time to do something about your fitness again. Fortunately, after 6 weeks, you can return to sports. You can resume fitness, swimming, cycling, running, if it feels good and you experience no pain. However, some patients are not yet allowed to do abdominal exercises. When in doubt, consult with your doctor before you begin exercising.

Final check-up and result

After about 3 months, you’ll come for a final check-up at MOOI Clinic. The timeframes listed for recovery are averages and can vary greatly from person to person. You reach the final result sometime between 4 and 6 months after surgery. The skin becomes less tight, bumps diminish, scars become smoother. As for scars, they may take longer to become less visible. Scars begin to turn from red to purple sometime between 6 and 12 months, eventually turning pale and becoming almost invisible. Any folds in the skin at the site of the scar disappear gradually.

Lower body lift results are almost always satisfactory, provided you have a realistic expectation of the operation.

A successful recovery begins with proper preparation

A body that is healthy and fit before a lower body lift will recover faster and better. The better your condition and abdominal muscles were before surgery, the faster you will recover. Therefore, make sure your body is fit and has enough nutrients for the surgery. This ensures better wound healing after surgery and reduces the risk of complications. Our partner R-Support has developed two science-based nutritional supplements for this purpose: Recover Prepare and Recover After Surgery. In preparation for surgery, you could start two weeks in advance with Recover Prepare. This is a shake that enhances your immune system and replenishes any deficiencies in essential nutrients for your surgery. It complements your normal (healthy) diet. Immediately after surgery, you could start with Recover After Surgery to maximize recovery and promote wound healing.

It is important to fast on the day of surgery!

Furthermore, if possible, arrange for extra help at home, such as from a partner, friend or associate who can help you out for the first few days. Stop smoking, too!

Do you have any doubts about your situation, as to whether or not you should be allowed to do something? Then contact us!