Tummy tuck in Medellín · Day 9 of 10
Day 9 after a tummy tuck in Medellín
If your surgeon clears you, plan the flight: aisle seat, small bag only, someone to lift your case, a walk every hour.
Short answer
On day 9 after a tummy tuck in Medellín:
- Not today Lifting and straining · Exercise · Showers, baths and pools
- With care Walking · Compression garment · Sleeping position · Flying home
Good options today: Rooftop bars and Parque Lleras, Coffee farm tour, Paragliding over the Aburrá Valley.
Today's rules
Walking
Walk every day, a little more than the day before. Walking helps blood flow and lowers the risk of clots and pneumonia. Between walks, move your feet and legs often.
Source: Kaiser Permanente · Acibadem International
Lifting and straining
For 6 weeks, avoid lifting anything that makes you strain, such as a suitcase, heavy shopping bags or a child. Let your companion carry the bags.
Source: Kaiser Permanente
Exercise
No abdominal exercises and nothing strenuous, such as cycling, jogging, weights or aerobics, for 6 to 8 weeks.
Source: Kaiser Permanente · NHS
Compression garment
Wear the compression garment all the time except in the shower. The NHS says it is usually worn for about 6 weeks; your surgeon sets the date.
Source: Kaiser Permanente · NHS
Showers, baths and pools
Showering usually starts 24 to 48 hours after surgery or once the drains are out, as your surgeon says. No bath for at least 2 weeks, and ask your surgeon before pools, the sea, hot tubs or the hammam.
Source: Kaiser Permanente · Acibadem International
Sleeping position
Rest with your upper body raised and pillows under your knees. Keeping your knees bent takes tension off the stitches.
Source: NHS · Acibadem International
Flying home
Fly only with your surgeon's clearance. Choose an aisle seat, ask for help with bags, walk about every hour and drink water.
Source: Acibadem International · U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · NHS
Confirm with your surgeon. These are general activity limits from published aftercare guidance. Your clinic's written instructions always come first, and they may be stricter or looser for your procedure.
4 things you can do today
Rooftop bars and Parque Lleras
El Poblado's rooftop bars and clubs. Late, loud and built around drinking, often on your feet for hours.
A few hours on foot with breaks, indoors, about 4 hours
Coffee farm tour
A visit to a coffee farm in the hills outside the city: plants, picking, roasting and tasting.
A few hours on foot with breaks, some open-air walking, about 6 hours
Paragliding over the Aburrá Valley
A tandem flight from San Félix in the hills north of the city, with a harness, a helmet and a bumpy landing.
A few hours on foot with breaks, mostly in full sun, about 4 hours
Downtown walking tour
A guided walk through the city centre's squares, churches and markets. Busy streets and some sun.
A few hours on foot with breaks, some open-air walking, about 3 hours
Also fine today: Comuna 13 graffiti tour · Museo de Antioquia and Plaza Botero · Pueblito Paisa on Cerro Nutibara · Parque Explora and aquarium · Parque Arví · Metrocable ride over the hillsides · Exotic fruit tasting at the market · Cafés in Provenza, El Poblado · Medellín Botanical Garden · Museo Casa de la Memoria · Museum of Modern Art of Medellín (MAMM) · El Tesoro or Santafé mall · Colombian cacao and chocolate workshop · Colombian cooking class
2 things to skip today
Guatapé and El Peñol day trip
Why not: Too much walking and effort for this stage.
Not during the 10 days this guide covers. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.
Hotel spa with steam and hot tub
Why not: It involves swimming or water contact. It means steam, hot water or sauna heat.
Not during the 10 days this guide covers. Ask your surgeon when it is safe.
Where to eat today
- Fresh fruit juices. Jugos of lulo, maracuyá, guanábana or mango, made with water or milk at any café.
- Sancocho or mondongo soup. Hearty chicken, beef or tripe soups with vegetables, served at lunch with rice and avocado.
- Buñuelos and natilla. Cheese dough balls and a soft custard-like dessert, in bakeries all year.
Put every day of this guide in your calendar, with your dates