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After childbirth or significant weight loss, tummy tuck surgery, or abdominoplasty, can reduce the remaining excess loose skin and fat around the abdominal region.

By tightening the abdominal muscles and eliminating extra skin and fat, you can achieve your ideal slim contour and a more defined midsection.

Resting upright in a comfortable atmosphere can help you recover quicker from tummy tuck surgery.

What to Expect After Surgery

Before you have your tummy tuck surgery, most patients wonder what to expect.

We have created a comprehensive list of what most patients experience and provided tips below for recovering more comfortably.

The First Week

Most patients are sent home a few hours after their surgery, while some stay overnight for observations.

The degree of correction being made will determine what your surgeon recommends, which is discussed during your consultation with Dr. Wald.

Sometimes, a small, thin drainage tube is applied under the skin to collect any accumulations of bodily fluids. These drains are usually removed within the first week.

Your abdominal region may be wrapped in a compression garment or surgical gauze to aid in healing. These dressings can help reduce swelling and bruising and support your new contour.

Bruising, redness, and swelling are all common side effects. If you notice any discomfort, prescription pain medication can help alleviate your symptoms.

Exercising or strenuous activities are forbidden for the first week of your recuperation, including bending over or lifting anything heavy.

You may be cleared to stand up and carefully walk around the home during this time after the first day.

Post-operative care instructions are provided to each patient with guidelines on what to do during recovery.

The Second Week

By the second week of recovery, you will likely feel back to normal.

You can start resuming some of your regular routines as they are cleared by your doctor.

At this point, some patients feel up to returning to work, while others can take up to four weeks to get back to their normal routines.

One Month After Surgery

Around this time is when the incisions begin to scar. Most scarring fades over time and can be covered by undergarments and swimsuits.

You should be feeling much better by the one-month mark and should be able to resume work and other activities.

Tips for Your Recovery

To help you heal quicker and avoid some of the potential risks involved with recovery, here are some tips to follow during your recuperation.

• Prepare a comfortable area in your home that will be quiet and relaxing, including entertainment sources such as television, electronic devices, books, magazines, and other forms of light entertainment. Remember to include any power cords or batteries within reach, just in case!
• Fill all prescriptions before you go in for surgery so you have it all ready when you return home.
• Schedule a loved one to drive you to and from your surgery and help take care of you for the first few days while you recuperate.
• You will need someone to watch your children, if you have any, and complete daily tasks for you.
• Carefully follow all instructions and post-operative care directions from your surgeon. These guidelines will ensure the best recovery possible.
• Rest and get plenty of sleep the first week after your procedure. Take it easy and listen to your body; if you feel that something is unusual, communicate with your surgeon.
• Eat healthy, light meals, and remain hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
• Do not push your body during your recovery. Overexerting yourself can result in a longer, more painful recovery process.

Need More Information?

Are you ready to make the next move toward addressing your abdominal appearance? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Wald today by calling (714) 312-3549 or reaching out online.

Our team is happy to work with you, and Dr. Wald can discuss all of your concerns about tummy tuck surgery!

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 29th, 2019 at 8:52 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

With spring in full bloom, the weather is starting to warm up. The longer the sun is out, the more important it is to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays. Many people desire a youthful face, but the sun can damage the skin, causing fine lines and wrinkles to form and making a person look aged and worn out. The key to preventing premature aging is to start a daily skin care regimen. Although we cannot halt the aging process, we can slow it down by adopting healthy skin habits.

6 Tips for Beautiful Facial Skin

Most people strive to have beautiful, radiant facial skin, but not everyone benefits from good genetics. Therefore, here are six things you can do to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy:

1. Wear sunscreen

Applying sunscreen daily before sun exposure is necessary to prevent premature aging. You should use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day.  

2. Wash your face

Keeping the skin clean is essential for preventing breakouts, blemishes, and dull skin. You should wash your face daily with the correct cleanser for your skin type.

3. Apply moisturizer

Moisturizing your face in the morning and at night is important. It is recommended to use a lotion that is gentle enough for everyday use and isn’t heavy in fragrances.

4. Eat healthy

Sticking to a healthy diet is crucial in keeping your skin fresh and clear. Avoiding high-sugared foods, alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes will help to retain moisture to prevent wrinkles and fine lines from forming. Be sure to consume lots of fruits and vegetables for optimal results.

5. Get plenty of sleep

Sleep has a huge impact on a person’s health. Sleeping allows the body to regenerate and refresh and helps prevent creases and wrinkles from developing. You should get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night.

6. Drink lots of water

Hydration plays a primary role in our skin health. Maintaining a hydrated body helps to retain moisture to create radiant skin and to prevent sagging. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water every day.

When Skin Care Isn’t Enough

Sometimes healthy habits can only do so much for preventing and diminishing the appearance of facial aging. When daily skin care isn’t sufficient, you can opt for cosmetic treatments designed for targeting the effects of aging. Dr. Wald offers a variety of non-surgical options that can help to reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and blemishes. The following are some of the non-surgical procedures he performs at his practice for facial rejuvenation:

• BOTOX® Cosmetic: An FDA-approved neurotoxin made of a protein derived from botulinum toxin type A that blocks nerve impulses to paralyze facial muscles temporarily. BOTOX® Cosmetic can diminish the appearance of frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet for three to six months.

• Sciton® skin resurfacing: The CO₂ laser emits a beam of light to remove unwanted tissue. It vaporizes skin cells to reduce the appearance of sun-damaged skin, facial wrinkles, and scars.

• Sciton® Infini: Infrared energy is used to heat the dermal layer of the skin and stimulate collagen growth. The Sciton® Infini is effective for treating acne as well as lax, aged, or photodamaged skin.

If you want more skin care advice from a plastic surgeon or are interested in a cosmetic treatment, schedule your consultation with Dr. Robert Wald today! Contact us by calling (714) 312-3549 or by filling out our online contact form.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 24th, 2017 at 1:29 am and is filed under Uncategorized.

Signs and Symptoms of Melanoma

The cardinal feature observed in a skin lesion that proves to be melanoma is a change observed over a period of months. The time scale of the observed change is important. If a lesion grows so that it doubles its size within 10 days, it is usually an inflammatory (irritant) condition. If the lesion grows slowly that the patient or his relatives are unsure of any change, the lesion is often benign. However, medical advice should be sought regarding a lesion that doubles its size in 3 to 8 months. These symptoms may include growth in the diameter or contour of the mole, a change in color, bleeding, itching, ulceration, or the development of a palpable lymph node.

Growth (increased size) and color change (usually darker) are the symptoms most commonly seen first. They occur in over 70% of early, curable melanomas. Most lesions arise from a pre-existing mole, either on the trunk or leg. Please note that these facts and see your doctor immediately if you see these types of dark lesions.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 29th, 2010 at 8:52 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.

Beware of Red Spots-Possible Skin Cancer

In my practice, a lot of patients point out to me red spots located on their faces and body. It is important to realize that some of these red areas may be early or actual skin cancer. The most common types of red spots are actinic keratosis (premalignant) and basal cell carcinomas.

It is very difficult for a patient to determine what these lesions represent. Typically, a red lesion that is present for many months, that itches, is scaly and flakes, is of concern. A strong history of sun exposure and a fair skinned individual are at high risk for developing these lesions.

When I see these lesions, a biopsy must be done to determine a diagnosis. In most cases, various anticancer creams can be applied to non-cancerous lesions. If a basal cell cancer is found, a minor surgery or radiation therapy is used to treat these cancers. It is important to realize that these cancers are not life threatening as long as they are caught early and treated. It is my advice that everyone examine their selves regularly and see their doctor for any suspicious lesions.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 29th, 2010 at 8:58 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.

How to look good without downtime

Today, most patients want facial improvement and a youthful appearance without surgery, discomfort or prolonged swelling and bruising. This can be accomplished with facial fillers (Juvederm, Radiesse).

As we age, the underlying facial soft tissue atrophies and we begin to hallow out. Laugh lines, crow’s feet and other facial wrinkles develop causing us to look older and less vibrant than we feel. Today, natural and biocompatible substances such as hyaluronic acid (Restylane, hylaform), calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) and fat are helping to restore a more youthful appearance for millions of women and men. Research is ongoing, and new products are constantly being developed that further expand the choices available to physicians and patients.

Fillers are used to fill lines, wrinkles and lips. They may also be used to reduce the appearance of scarring caused by acne, chicken pox or injury. We also use them to augment cheeks and chins. One of the ways I am using fillers if for facial shaping. By building up the cheekbones and using hylaform to fill the indent in front of the jowls, disguising it, I can give the face a younger shape.

This entry was posted on Monday, November 29th, 2010 at 9:01 pm and is filed under Uncategorized.