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

Usually recovery from tummy tuck surgery is 5 to 7 days to drive 7-10 days to go back to work and 3-4 weeks to exercise. Recover after tummy tucks takes 1-2 weeks before you will be driving, and 4-8 weeks before resuming strenuous exercise. (Steven Yarinsky, MD, Albany Plastic Surgeon)

The recovery time varies from patient to patient. It is common to experience some swelling, bruising, pain and discomfort for the first few days after a tummy tuck. Patients may also have numbness below the belly button and some residual bleeding.

Most patients can resume light to regular activity with in 10-14 days. By 4-6 week after surgery patients can resume full activity comfortably. (George Papanicolaou, MD, Orlando Plastic Surgeon)

Every surgeon’s postop regimen is different. You should seek out a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon that you are comfortable with and ask his or her regimen.

Generally speaking, my patients in San Antonio who have a Tummy Tuck do not have much to do immediately post-op. The only dressings that have to be changed in the first week are usually around the drain sites. Pain is not that bad because I use the On-Q pain ball or a long acting local anesthetic. These usually last for about 3 days and take care of the worst part of the pain.

Checkups are usually weekly until your drains come out, and nobody usually goes back to work before week 2. I agree with others here that it generally takes a good 4 to 6 weeks before Tummy Tuck patients feel close to “normal” (Suresh Koneru, MD, San Antonio Plastic Surgeon)

It is important that you discuss your recovery from tummy tuck surgery and guidelines for your recovery with the surgeon who is performing your surgery. Each surgeon has her own individual preferences.

Generally speaking expect that you will have drains and discomfort for the first 4-5 days after surgery which will require you to walk with a bend forward at the waist.

At 2 weeks you will be much more comfortable but still limited in terms of lifting and vigorous physical activity. If extensive muscle repair work is done you should not attempt heavy workouts at the gym heavy lifting or situps for at least 6-8 weeks after surgery.

Although many people try to go back to work for sedentary jobs after 2-3 weeks is still will not feel back to normal for at least 6-8 weeks. (Brooke R. Seckel, MD, FACS, Boston Plastic Surgeon)

Every patient is different with their recovery from tummy tuck surgery because everyone’s pain tolerance is different. My patients average between 1-2 weeks off of work. By one week, most patients are able to stand upright and also have their drains removed. Most patients can drive by one week. Patients can start light cardio exercise like walking outside or on a treadmill by 2 weeks. Heavy exercise or lifting more than 10 pounds requires 6 weeks after surgery.

By six weeks the muscle repair and skin incision is fully healed as far as strength. (Stanley Castor, MD, Tampa Plastic Surgeon)