OP. DR. M. HAKAN BULAM PLASTIC, RECONSTRUCTIVE AND AESTHETIC SURGERY
After surgery

Your recovery timeline.

Select your surgery and, if you wish, enter your surgery date. Dr. Hakan Bulam's aftercare instructions for his patients are listed day by day: corset, drains, shower, massage, sea and pool.

Written by: Op. Dr. M. Hakan Bulam, Specialist in Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Published: Last updated:

Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

Throughout recovery

  • Water and protein We recommend drinking 2-3 liters of water a day to prevent edema and eating a protein-based diet.
  • Maintain your weight We ask you to avoid gaining weight after surgery and, if possible, maintain your ideal weight through your diet.

  1. 1 month before surgery

    Cutting down on smoking

    If possible, we recommend cutting down on smoking or even quitting; we also ask you not to smoke after surgery. The surgical process and results are 30-50% less risky and trouble-free in non-smokers compared to smokers.

  2. Surgery day

    Lymphatic drainage massage

    You can start immediately after surgery, with a total of 8-10 sessions.

  3. First week

    Walking slightly bent forward

    Because of the stitches in your abdomen, we ask you to walk slightly bent forward for 1 week, avoid lying flat and sleep with at least two pillows under your head.

  4. From surgery day, for 4-6 weeks

    Corset

    We recommend wearing your corset for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery. You can remove it briefly for showering and toileting.

  5. The next morning

    Dressing

    Our nurse will change your dressing and care for you. The incision is covered with waterproof brown tapes.

  6. Days 1-5

    Drain removal

    You will have 2-4 drains depending on the areas operated on. They are removed when Dr. Hakan Bulam considers it appropriate; this varies from 1-5 days from patient to patient. At home, you can empty the drains when they are full and tell our nurse the amount drained.

  7. 24 hours after drain removal

    First shower

    You can shower with the tapes on because they are waterproof.

  8. From week 2

    Walking

    You can start walking from the 2nd week after surgery.

  9. Day 15

    Tape removal

    We ask you to leave the brown tapes on the wound for a total of 15 days. The stitches dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed.

  10. After week 4

    Other activities

    You can start other activities after the 4th week following surgery.

  11. From week 4

    Sea and pool

    You can enter the sea or pool from week 4.

  12. Weeks 4-6

    End of corset use

    During this period, you can stop wearing the corset you have used for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery.

  13. Months 3-6

    Tissues soften

    Early edema, swelling and localized stiffness decrease over time, and your tissues regain their natural consistency within 3-6 months.

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Brazilian butt lift (BBL)

Throughout recovery

  • Water and protein We recommend drinking 2-3 liters of water a day to prevent edema and eating a protein-based diet.
  • Corset care We recommend washing your corset by hand. If you need a second corset, you can write to our clinic coordinator.
  • Sleeping position You can support your back with pillows. You can sleep on your stomach if you wish, but you must not do so if you had a tummy tuck along with BBL.

  1. Surgery day

    Lymphatic drainage massage

    You can start immediately after surgery, with a total of 8-10 sessions. Massage is performed only on the areas where fat was removed, not on the areas where fat was injected.

  2. First 3 weeks

    BBL pillow

    To avoid pressure on the areas where we injected fat, we ask you to use the BBL pillow we give you when sitting and sleeping for 3 weeks.

  3. From surgery day, for 4-6 weeks

    Corset

    We ask you to wear your corset for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery. You can remove it briefly for showering and toileting.

  4. Days 1-5

    Drain removal

    You will have 2-4 drains depending on the areas operated on. They are removed when Dr. Hakan Bulam considers it appropriate; this varies from 1-5 days from patient to patient. At home, you can empty the drains when they are full and tell our nurse the amount drained.

  5. 24 hours after drain removal

    First shower

    You can shower 24 hours after your drains are removed.

  6. From week 2

    Sea and pool

    You can enter the sea or pool from week 2.

  7. From week 2

    Walking

    You can start walking from the 2nd week after surgery.

  8. Weeks 2-3

    Stitches fall out

    The stitches in the small liposuction incisions fall out on their own within 2-3 weeks. These areas do not need dressings.

  9. After week 4

    Other activities

    You can start other activities after the 4th week following surgery.

  10. Weeks 4-6

    End of corset use

    During this period, you can stop wearing the corset you have worn for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery.

  11. Months 3-6

    Tissues soften

    Early edema, swelling and localized stiffness decrease over time, and your tissues regain their natural consistency within 3-6 months.

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VASER liposuction

Throughout recovery

  • Water and protein We recommend eating a protein-based diet and drinking 2-3 liters of water a day to prevent edema.
  • Lymphatic drainage massage We consider lymphatic drainage massage necessary for a quick recovery and recommend 8-10 sessions.

  1. From surgery day, for 4-6 weeks

    Corset

    We ask you to wear your corset for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery. You can remove it briefly for showering and toileting.

  2. Day 4

    First shower

    You can shower on the 4th day after surgery.

  3. From week 2

    Sea and pool

    You can enter the sea or pool from week 2.

  4. From week 2

    Walking

    You can start walking from the 2nd week after surgery.

  5. Weeks 2-3

    Stitches fall out

    The stitches in the small incisions fall out on their own within 2-3 weeks. These areas do not need dressings.

  6. After week 4

    Other activities

    You can start other activities after the 4th week following surgery.

  7. Weeks 4-6

    End of corset use

    During this period, you can stop wearing the corset you have worn for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery.

  8. Months 3-6

    Tissues soften

    Edema, swelling and stiffness decrease over time, and your skin regains its natural consistency within 3-6 months.

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Thigh lift

Throughout recovery

  • Water and protein We recommend drinking 2-3 liters of water a day to prevent edema and eating a protein-based diet.
  • Maintain your weight We ask you to avoid gaining weight after surgery and, if possible, maintain your ideal weight through your diet.

  1. 1 month before surgery

    Cutting down on smoking

    If possible, we recommend cutting down on smoking or even quitting; we also ask you not to smoke after surgery. The surgical process and results are 30-50% less risky and trouble-free in non-smokers compared to smokers.

  2. From surgery day, for 4-6 weeks

    Corset

    We recommend wearing your corset for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery. You can remove it briefly for showering and care.

  3. The next morning

    Dressing

    Our nurse will change your dressing and care for you. The incision is covered with waterproof brown tapes.

  4. 24 hours after drain removal

    First shower

    You can shower with the tapes on because they are waterproof.

  5. After drain removal

    Lymphatic drainage massage

    You can start immediately after your drains are removed, with a total of 8-10 sessions.

  6. From week 2

    Walking

    You can start walking from the 2nd week after surgery.

  7. Day 15

    Tape removal

    We ask you to leave the brown tapes on the wound for a total of 15 days. The stitches dissolve on their own and do not need to be removed.

  8. After week 4

    Other activities

    You can start other activities after the 4th week following surgery.

  9. From week 4

    Sea and pool

    You can enter the sea or pool from week 4.

  10. Weeks 4-6

    End of corset use

    During this period, you can stop wearing the corset you have worn for 4-6 weeks from the day of surgery.

  11. Months 3-6

    Tissues soften

    Early edema, swelling and localized stiffness decrease over time, and your tissues regain their natural consistency within 3-6 months.

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Breast augmentation (with implants)

Throughout recovery

  • Avoid pressure We recommend avoiding situations that put pressure on the surgical area, such as lying on your stomach or hugging.

  1. Surgery day

    Shower

    You can shower without getting the breast area wet.

  2. First week

    Pain

    An uncomfortable period of pain is not expected; there may generally be pain for about a week, but it will not prevent you from meeting your daily needs.

  3. First 4 weeks

    Medical bra and chest compression band

    We recommend using the medical bra and chest compression band we give you for a total of 4 weeks.

  4. The next morning

    Drain removal

    The two drains, one on the right and one on the left, are usually removed the morning after surgery, depending on the amount of fluid collected.

  5. The day after drain removal

    Drain site dressing

    You can remove the dressings at the drain sites. These areas do not need any further dressings.

  6. Days 3-7

    Return to work and social life

    You can return to work and social life within 3-7 days after surgery.

  7. Day 5

    Full shower

    After 5 days, you can wash your whole body, including the surgical area.

  8. Weeks 1-2

    Swelling and tightness decrease

    A feeling of tightness is normal because of the volume added by the implants; the surgery does not cause excessive swelling or bruising. The slight swelling and tightness in the upper and outer parts of the breasts decrease after 1-2 weeks.

  9. Days 10-14

    Removing the tape

    The brown tape over the incision stays on for a total of 10-14 days. You can remove it yourself after soaking it in the shower. The stitches dissolve on their own.

  10. After tape removal, for 3 months

    Scar cream

    After the tape is removed, we recommend using scar creams such as Contractubex, Noscar or Scarex twice a day for 3 months.

  11. After week 2

    Sports bra

    You can also start wearing a sports bra alongside your medical bra.

  12. Week 2

    Sexual activity

    You can resume sexual activity 2 weeks after surgery.

  13. Week 2

    Walking

    In the 2nd week after the surgery, you can take walks.

  14. After week 4

    Exercise

    You can do exercises that do not work the chest area and do not require jumping.

  15. End of month 1

    Choosing a bra

    You can wear any bra you wish, as long as the parts over the incision are not too tight and do not compress the wound.

  16. Month 2

    Lying on your stomach

    You can start lying on your stomach after 2 months.

Surgery page Message on WhatsApp

The times in this timeline come from the written aftercare instructions Dr. Hakan Bulam gives his patients. They may vary depending on the person and the extent of surgery. Dr. Hakan Bulam will clarify them for you at your follow-up visits. Call the clinic if anything unexpected happens, and call 112 in an emergency.