With proper care of the surgical incision and gentle treatment of the digestive system, bloating after abdominal surgery can be reduced. Follow all instructions from your doctor or nurse to keep the wound clean and prevent infection. Also, avoid abdominal bloating by eating small, frequent meals throughout the day and choosing foods that are easy to digest. You’ll also want to drink plenty of water and eat high-fiber foods to prevent constipation.

Caring for Surgical Incisions

Follow post-operative care instructions. After surgery, your nurse or doctor will give you instructions on how to care for yourself at home, including instructions for caring for your abdominal incision. Strictly follow expert recommendations to protect surgical incisions and prevent infection.

• To make sure you remember these instructions, ask your doctor or nurse for written instructions, or ask a loved one to listen to them with you.

After each cleaning of the incision, keep it clean and dry. Wash the incision site daily with mild soap and water, then pat dry with a clean towel. Make sure no excess moisture remains, which can lead to infection and swelling.

• Wait at least 24 hours after surgery before cleaning the incision or showering.
• How long you need to care for your incisions depends on the type of abdominal surgery you have. In short, the incision must be cleaned and cared for within the time instructed by the doctor.

Apply a cold compress to the abdomen for 20 minutes each time. Helping cool the abdomen after surgery can reduce swelling and relieve pain. Wrap an ice pack or a sealed plastic bag filled with crushed ice in a clean towel and apply it gently on the abdomen for up to 20 minutes every hour.

Do not apply ice cubes directly to the skin to avoid irritation or damage to the skin.

Do not touch the incision site to prevent it from becoming infected. Except for cleaning the wound, do not touch the incision site at other times to avoid irritating the wound or spreading germs and causing infection. Both conditions can cause the incision to swell.

• If you want to apply some lotion around the abdomen, be sure to choose a fragrance-free lotion that does not touch the incision.

If you notice signs of infection, contact your doctor immediately. Watch closely for any signs of infection. If you notice the wound becomes redder, drains fluid, or becomes swollen, contact your doctor immediately. If the incision site becomes more painful, you must also seek medical attention.

Ask your doctor if you will need to wear a compression garment after surgery. This is an elastic shapewear worn over the incision site after surgery. After abdominal liposuction surgery, you must wear a compression garment to hold the bandage in place and control swelling and bleeding. Ask your doctor if you will need to wear a compression garment after surgery and for how long.

• Doctors usually recommend wearing compression garments for 3-6 weeks after surgery.
• Compression garments can be purchased online or at medical supply stores.
• Carefully stretch the shapewear around your abdomen while it recovers. When taking off clothes, you should also be gentle.

Reduce Bloating

After abdominal surgery, you may have trouble digesting, so be careful what you eat. Don’t eat too much food at one time as this can overwhelm your digestive system and cause bloating. Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day to maintain energy.

• Try eating smaller portions like oatmeal, salad, or soup.
• Choose snacks like bananas, apples, or whole-grain crackers.
• Ask your doctor when you can resume eating normally.

Prevent constipation by drinking plenty of water. Constipation and bloating are common after surgery, especially if you take painkillers. Drink plenty of hydrating fluids throughout the day, such as water and herbal teas, to improve digestion and metabolism.

• Generally speaking, try to drink 2000ml of liquid every day to replenish body water.
• Drink enough fluids to make sure your urine is clear.
• Avoid alcoholic and caffeinated drinks that can dehydrate your body.
• Strong-smelling urine may be a sign of dehydration.

Follow your doctor’s recommended post-operative diet. After abdominal surgery, avoid eating foods that are difficult to digest. Ask your doctor what foods are good and bad to eat during recovery. Generally speaking, you should eat soft, light, and easy-to-digest foods for one week after surgery:

• Use a blender to break up foods to make them softer and easier to digest.
• You can also eat baby food while recovering from surgery.
• Follow this diet for as long as your doctor recommends.

Eating high-fiber foods can prevent gas and constipation. Whole grains, fruits, and vegetables are all good sources of dietary fiber. Include the following foods in your diet:

• Banana.
• Peaches, pears, and apples.
• Hot cereals such as oatmeal.
• Sweet potatoes.
• Cook vegetables till soft.

Try to stay active to eliminate gas from your body. After abdominal surgery, staying active can help promote intestinal peristalsis and prevent gas accumulation, which can cause bloating. Get yourself moving and get some moderate exercise by walking a few times a day.

• As your physical strength increases, you can extend your walking time.
• During the postoperative recovery period, strenuous activities such as running, cycling, and skipping are not allowed.
• Fart when necessary. Holding it in can worsen gas and discomfort.

Ask your doctor if you need to use stool softeners. After abdominal surgery, you may have difficulty passing stool. Stool softeners may help. Emptying your bowels regularly can help prevent abdominal bloating and discomfort. Ask your doctor if stool softeners are appropriate for you and follow their instructions for how long.

Tips

• If the bloating does not improve within a few days after surgery or becomes worse, be sure to contact your doctor.
• If you experience pain, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite, the incision site becomes redder, or you have a fever, be sure to seek medical attention as soon as possible to rule out the possibility of infection.