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

I perform tummy tucks as an outpatient procedure. That means no overnight stay in the hospital is required. Of course every patient is unique, but most of my tummy tuck patients are back to work 10 days post-op. They can return to cardiovascular exercise at 3 weeks post surgery. By 6 weeks, they are generally fully recovered and can resume wieght and core strengthening. (Sacha Obaid, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon)

Recovery for tummy tuck is one of the hardest. It is a painful procedure, and most patients have to deal with tummy tuck drains for 2 weeks or so (particualary when lipo is done at the same time). A compression garment is needed for 6 weeks, and it takes the whole 6 weeks for a full recovery. (Frederick G. Weniger, MD, FACS, Hilton Head Island Plastic Surgeon)

The hardest part of an initial consult is not knowing what surgery to do to get good results. The hardest part is knowing how to speak to patients individually while trying to understand how each person is going to react to the surgical process. I think expecting to function relatively independently at one week is far too much to ask but some people are ready.

I think not functioning fully at 2 months is a stretch but some people are just not there at that time. It is irresponsible to promise quick recovery for tummy tuck but unrealistic to suggest everyone needs months. Because an hour or two in my office is enough to get a feel but not a reliable understanding of a patient.

It is most important for you to look, honestly, at yourself to see where you are likely to fall on that spectrum. (Jeremy Pyle, MD, Raleigh-Durham Plastic Surgeon)

I generally recommend two weeks “off” work/school, etc.The first week it is very tight and you will not be able to straighten up completely.

You can usually stand straight and drive by the end of two weeks. I like my patients to wear a compression girdle for six weeks. Exercise can resume at six weeks but can take a month or so to get back to your pre-op routine. Final results can usually be seen between 3-6 months after surgery. Numbness can take over a year to resolve and sometimes there can be a small area just above the pubis area that remain numb.

Recovery for tummy tuck will of course vary from person to person, general health and any other type of conditions. It is important to discuss all of your health conditions with your surgeon before surgery in order to optimize your recovery. (Ronald Schuster, MD, Baltimore Plastic Surgeon)

I counsel my patients about recovery as a series of steps. For the first 8 days or so you should have plenty of help, since over activity in this critical early period can lead to problems with the flap adhering back to the underlying muscle. Think of it as glue sticking. it cannot happen efficiently if the surfaces are constantly moving. Failure to properly fuse back to the muscle is what leads to seroma and that is something that only you, the patient, can control after you go home. By 10 days to 2 weeks the healing process should be far enough along that my patients typically return to a sedentary job, drive the car and run basic errands.

By 4 weeks, activity can be increasingly strenuous but it typically take the healing process 6 weeks to allow vigorous activity such as full unrestricted exercise. Individuals may vary but these are good safe guidelines for most people. No matter what variation or technique a surgeon uses, you cannot predictably speed up the known time frames for human tissue healing.

Pushing the envelope can lead to bleeding, seroma, incision separation with secondary infection and other delays in recovery. This something that should be very extensively covered in your consultation. (Gregory J. Stagnone, MD, Dallas Plastic Surgeon )

A tummy tuck recovery time could depending on the type of tummy tuck you need to have done, a mini tummy tuck, full tummy tuck or extended tummy tuck. After the procedure you would expect some discomfort for the first 4 days but it would be control with oral pain medications. This procedure involve repair of the muscle, skin tightening, liposuction and removal of the skin and fat.

You would experience some light swollen the most rest to take over the first 5 to 7 day the best you recovery time would be. Good luck with your decision. (Mel T. Ortega, MD, Miami Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy tuck pain is largely determined by the degree of plication performed with the pain from the incision secondary. Thus, a tummy tuck with no muscle tightening is not as painful. Patients with plication should expect 1 to 2 weeks off from work. In addition, patients should avoid strenuous activity for about 6 weeks.

Find a plastic surgeon with ELITE credentials who performs hundreds of tummy tuck procedures each year.

Then look at the plastic surgeon’s website before and after photo galleries to get a sense of who can deliver the results. (Kenneth B. Hughes, MD, Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon )

In general, in my practie, most patients take 2-3 weeks out of work. They need help at home during the first week, and can resume exercise (except core exercises) at 4 weeks time. But that being said, the recovery period is variable amongst patients given different pain tolerances.
(Christopher J. Davidson, MD, FACS, Wellesley Plastic Surgeon)