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

A tummy tuck is an extensive operation. In the course of a tummy tuck, an incision is made from one hip to the other. The incision is carried through the skin and fat down to the muscle layer. The muscle is not entered.

At the level where the fat and muscle come together, the skin and fat layer is lifted up. This lifting continues until the belly button is reached.

At that point, an incision is made around the belly button, allowing the skin to be lifted off of the belly button and continue lifting it up to the rib cage.

This leaves the belly button attached to the muscle layer. Many times, the muscle layer is strengthened by a series of stitches in the midportion. Once the muscle layer is repaired, then the skin and fat layer is pulled snugly downward and the excess skin is removed. A new incision is made for the belly button to come back out and all of the wounds are stitched closed.

At the end of this procedure, there is a large raw surface area between the fat layer and the underlying muscle layer. This entire surface area has to ultimately meld together and heal. While this process is taking place, it is important to restrict your day to day activities.

Usually, a patient will remain home and not travel in their automobile for two weeks after the operation. Instructions are usually given not to lift more than five pounds and not do anything that would cause tensing of the abdominal wall. Tensing at the muscle layer could break some of the stitches used to tighten up this layer.

After two weeks it is reasonable to start walking more regularly and getting some exercise from this activity. Any activity that stresses the abdominal wall should be delayed for eight to ten weeks. This would include such things as sit ups, crunches and any weight lifting that would result in tensing of the abdominal wall.

Tummy tuck exercises tips

• In most cases you can return to regular exercise 6 weeks after tummy tuck surgery. However, every patient is different and you really have to go by your own doctor’s recommendations.
• One of the major repairs performed during an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) is a plication of the rectus abdominis fascia. I reinforce this repair with two layers of permanent suture material. It is important that patients abstain from vigorous activity for 6 to 8 weeks following abdominoplasty.
• I would start with walking and other low impact exercices after 2 weeks. Upper body  exercises 3 to 4 weeks after surgery. I would not do any abdominal exercises or core exercises that put a strain on your abdominals until the 8 week mark. Always listen to your body. If it hurts, don’t do it.
• This is a BIG opeation. The concern with overdoing it too early is that the suture may tear through your tissues and leave you with a bulge. Usually six weeks is a long enough time to start getting back into the swing of things. It is important to warm up and stretch out completely so you don’t tear anything. Of course, your particular case may be different depending on what the surgeon did, and what your particular health issues are, so check with him first.


Tummy tuck exercise – walking

• A classic tummy tuck involves the tightening of the abdominal wall fascia or plication. The soreness alone will require you to avoid straining activity. Each surgeon will have a protocol that they will follow to assist you with your recovery. My protocol is no lifting more than 10 pounds for the first two weeks, then 20 pounds maximum up to six weeks. You can do aerobic activity after 3 weeks. No sit-ups or crunches for the first three months but you can do weight lifting of other muscle groups as tolerated after six weeks. When you first start to do sit-ups, it will be very slow and you want to be careful not to push too hard at the beginning.
• Ask your doctor this question, but in my own practice I allow patients to begin exercises that get their heart rates and blood pressure up after 2 weeks from surgery.  I ask them to avoid straining their abdomens for eight weeks until the full strength of their muscle reapir has been obtained.
• I usually instruct my patients that they should avoid any strenous acitvity or exercise (like sit-ups or heavy lifitng) after a Tummy Tuck for at least 6-8 weeks.