Tummy Tuck: Prices, Photos, Reviews, Info, Q&A

Patients are typically discharged home the day of surgery with On-Q pain pumps in place. Help will be needed for 2-3 days following surgery. The pain pump is removed at home by the pain 4-5 days after surgery and the tummy tuck drains are removed 1-2 weeks after surgery. Patients may drive when they are off pain medication for 48 hours – generally 2-3 weeks after surgery. Full physical activity may be resumed 4-6 weeks after surgery. (Marisa Lawrence, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Recovery after tummy tuck is relatively quick, provided the pre and post-operative instructions are carefully followed. In my practice patients are given very specific pre-operative instructions in preperation for the surgery. After the procedure, strict guidelines as far as what to and what not to do are given. Patients are able to walk right after the procedure (we routinely use epidural anesthesia) which is also encouraged in order to lessen chances of blood clots in the legs.

Patients are permitted to return to work after one week, if the work does not involve physical exhersion or lifting. At 3-4 weeks patients are instructed to resume light excercise, such as using an eliptical or a stationary bicycle. At 6 weeks post surgery FULL ACTIVITY is encouraged. (Z. Paul Lorenc, MD Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)

At our clinic tummy tuck patients use a pain-relief pump which is a small device that delivers local anesthetic continuously for 24 hours. It is about the size of an ipod that a patient will wear around their waist. My patients now have no pain following their surgery which means they need to take very little pain medication if any at all.

My patients able to return to normal activities after 2 weeks but it can take up to 1 year to see the complete result of your surgery. Our patients are all provided with a fact sheet of post op instructions of what to expect after surgery. Be sure to follow the recommendations and instructions outlined by your surgeon’s office. (Frank Lista, MD Toronto Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck recovery depends on what is actually performed as a part of the Operation. If the Rectus muscle is tightened then 6 weeks would be reasonable, otherwise about 4 weeks if only the skin and fat are removed.

Our patients take one to two weeks off work/school. We find that after tummy tuck and lipo with progressive tension suturing of the skin flap, recovery is faster. In this technique, the additional sutures are placed between the skin and abdominal wall to close the open space. This allow to remove drains as early as 2-4 days after surgery (as compared to 1-2 weeks with conventional tummy tuck). Patient can start exercising in 3-4 weeks after surgery. (Vladimir Grigoryants, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon)

The recovery in every patient is very different because each body is different so each person has a different experience but what is to be expected in general is the recovery lasts a period of 4 to 6 weeks the indications consist of not :

• General Rest ( Avoid lifting heavy objects; limit your self to the minimum activities and avoid standing near an open flam (cooking for example). NO HOUSECLEANING for three weeks minimum)
• Use girdle as a routine. ( you have to use it for 4 to 6 weeks, depending on what your Doctor recommends depends on how your recovering)
• Walk leaning forward in a 75 degree angle. ( you will have to walk leaning forward for a couple of weeks to avoid opening the wound.
• A balanced diet, low in grease, and spices, avoid eating all types of grains because this causes abdominal distention. ( I recommend eating healthy through out all this process, such as fruit and soups, saladas and chicken with vegetables just maintaining a good healthy balanced diet to avoid eating anything that will cause distention or more inflammation and or retention of liquids which is called by eating to much salty foods)


Recovery after tummy tuck picture

• Shower daily without removing the tapes from the scar; dry the tapes with a towel. It is important to empty the drains every 12 hours (when you wake up and before going to bed). And keep in a notebook and keep a record of how much you are draining adding what you drained in the morning and in the night. Once you empty the container you must squeeze it and closed with the hose to keep the vacuum working
• The tapes put on the incisions will be removed approximately 5 to 7 days. We will remove stitches on the belly button 3 weeks after the surgery, the scar will less visible after 6 months.
• It is also very important to count with people that will be able to help you through out this whole process, because you will not be able to do many things on your own you will somebody to help you get up off the bed, to help you shower and help you go to the bathroom and take you food, so it really important to have people you can count on to be of support to you. Surgery its self is not only a physical change but also emotional so you will feel a see of emotions but I personally think it is worth it, as long as you follow your indications thoroughly there shouldn’t be any complications. Overall the tummy tuck gives great results and leaves patients very satisfied. (Luis Suarez, MD, Mexico Plastic Surgeon)

However, if my patients are having a full tummy tuck with muscle pilcation, I advise them to take about three weeks off. Most patients can do work on the computer fairly soon after surgery. The ideal senerio is to return to work on reduced hours in the third week. A total of six weeks before return to heavy lifting. Finally the more patients rest the first two weeks the faster they will heal and resume full daily activities. (Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC Toronto Plastic Surgeon)

Although there are a variety of different types of tummy tucks, different techniques among plastic surgeons, and different pain tolerances among patients the following is what most people can expect:

• commonly performed tummy tuck is the full tummy tuck
• tummy tucks also include abdominal wall tightening (muscle repair)
• plastic surgeons inject numbing medication
• plastic surgeons use one or more drains as well as and abdominal binder
• patients walk bent over slightly for one week and take two weeks off work
• patients have drain(s) for one week and abdominal binder for 4 weeks
• patients return to exercise and full activity at 4-6 weeks

(Remus Repta, MD, Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon)

Recovery after tummy tuck depends upon whether or not the muscle fascia is tightened or a diastasis recti is repaired. These will make the recovery a little more painful. I have found that a good block of the abdominal wall during surgery greatly reduces the post op pain. I encourage walking immediately post op but only for a few minutes and driving in 2 weeks and more strenuous exercise at 6 weeks. Your surgeon will likely tailor your recommendation to your individual procedure. The contour correction is usually well worth it. (Richard A. Mouchantat, MD, Denver Plastic Surgeon)