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

Diastasis and umbilical hernia repair involve pulling the abdominal muscles together, and always result in pain and tightness greater than an abdominoplasty that involves only skin and fat.

The degree of pain and tightness depends on how big the defect was, and on how tight tissues were pulled. Some pain even 6 weeks after a hernia repair would not be remarkable.

Your surgeon should be able to advise you about whether your pain is a sign of a problem, or a normal consequence of your surgery.

You may benefit from walking with a cain to take some strain off your back. (Michael Kreidstein, MD, Toronto Plastic Surgeon)

Tummy Tuck Recovery course – tightness of abdomen

Recovery from a tummy tuck surrgery

It is very common to have abdominal muscle and skin tightness for several weeks after a tummy tuck. Especially during the first 2-4 weeks of a tummy tuck recovery many patients complain of not being able to stand up straight. There is nothing to worry about and as the skin stretch this will go away. (S. Sean Younai, MD, FACS, Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon)

Tightness after tummy tuck

Don’t be too impatient. If it has only been a few weeks it is perfectly fine to still feel tight. As long as the skin is fine and the wound has not separated you will do well. Wait until 6 weeks after surgery and then begin gentle stretching exercises. I usually recommend a large infflatable gym ball that allows for back extension. It will take time, you will be sore, and you will not have great ab strength.

Recovery from a tummy tuck photo

It will take you at least another six weeks after you start doing ab work again to get where you want to go. (Daniel Greenwald, MD, Tampa Plastic Surgeon)

Most patients at 2 and 1/2 weeks can stand straight, but not all. You will eventually resumes normal function but it may be a few weeks longer. Check with your surgeon and stay in contact with him. But I would not worry about your condition at this time. (Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD, Atlanta Plastic Surgeon)

Standing straight after a tummy tuck

Recovery from a tummy tuck image

I think that all patienss repsond differently. It also depend upon how much skin was removed, and how low the scar is located. When I place the tummy tuck incision very low and the patient is not as lax as some to begin with, it can take about 2 weeks for them to straighten up all the way. Give it some more time. (Steven Wallach, MD, Manhattan Plastic Surgeon)

I encourage all of my patients to stand up straight immediately after surgery. The longer you wait, the tougher it gets. You should talk to your surgeon (hopefully a plastic surgeon), but certainly over the next week (and possibly assisted by physical therapy), you should be able to stand up straight. It is not dangerous or bad that you are taking longer, so you don’t need to panic, but as the other doctors answering this question have pointed out, it does put extra strain on your joints and muscles.

I strongly discourage spending too much time lying in bed after tummy tuck surgery or just sitting in a chair since once the muscles tighten, it can be much harder to loosen them up. Hang in there, it will get better. (David E. Berman, MD, Sterling Plastic Surgeon)

Tightness after Tummy Tuck

Recovery from a tummy tuck gym ball

Having twins cause much more damage to the rectus muscles in comparison to a single pregnancy. Even as a fitness instructor, your abdominal wall probably required extensive repair of the loose muscle. The fact that you are still sore at 2 weeks, means that you probably had a tight repair of your rectus muscles and appropriate skin removal This will translate to a wonderful result longterm that will last much longer than a less aggressive muscle repair. Every patient heals differently based on the amount of surgery and their healing potential. I would followup closely with your plastic surgeon and give your body time to heal. I wish you a safe and healthy recovery from a tummy tuck. (Paul S. Gill, MD, Houston Plastic Surgeon)

Rest assured that what you are feeling is typical. As others have pointed out, there is a fine line between excising too much skin and not being able to stand up, and not removing enough skin.

How to recovery from a tummy tuck

In the former situation, you risk wound breakdown. In the later situation, the patient may not get their desired result and have recurrence of skin laxity much quicker. Like most surgeons on this page, I am fairly aggressive with the amount of skin excision while taking care to maximize blood supply for optimal scar and wound healing. I tell my patients to stay bent at the waist for the first week and then start to slowly stand up straight. If the pulling sensation is too strong or painful, then this is a signal to back off. Most patients will be nearly standing straight up within the next 4-6 weeks as the skin begins to stretch and the scar starts to mature. Over then ensuing months the swelling will resolve and these sensations should go away. (Matthew H. Steele, MD, Fort Worth Plastic Surgeon)

You may not be standing up for 2 months post-op

I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but in a way, I hope what I am about to say will be more reassuring than anything – I tell my patients that they may not be totally upright for 2 months after tummy tuck, let alone 2 1/2 weeks. I think that being in shape before surgery certainly helps that, but it can also work toward making you tighter in the early going. If your muscle tone is particularly high, and your muscles are strong, you may actually experience more muscle contraction and spasm in the early goings, and this could make you feel very tight and make it difficult to stand up. The best thing is to relax, because anxiety increased muscle tension, gently stretch the muscles just like you have always done to loosen tight muscles, perhaps supplement with some muscle relaxing medications like Flexeril or valium, and be patient. You will most likely have a beautiful tummy tuck results, you just have to allow your body the time to heal and don’t expect more than it can deliver. (Joseph L. Grzeskiewicz, MD, San Diego Plastic Surgeon)