In endemic goitre areas 20%of the population over 70 years old will have a retrosternal goitre. The definition of a retrosternal goitre varies with respective authors, there are four major definitions.
I started PT after 10 days and can straighten my leg, bend to a little past 90 degrees and walk without crutches three days before the 3 week post surgery mark.
In general, the recovery is at least six weeks after a tummy tuck surgery. Our patients have drainage tubes in for seven days at which time they are told not to go back to work. Once the tubes are removed, they can go back to work as long as there is no heavy lifting. Sutures remain in for up to 17 days. Subsequently, patients can resume light walking. However, exercising with normal routine should usually commence at about six to eight weeks. It takes at least six weeks for the sutures on the muscles to scar back down and, therefore, we have the patients wait. Patients are also put in abdominal binders and girdles for six to eight weeks in order to reduce swelling, edema, and allow the tissue to scar back down.