Abdominoplasty/tummy tuck is a surgical procedure that removes extra skin and fat tissue from the abdomen. You may request an Abdominoplasty after pregnancy, significant weight gain and then loss, in menopause or if you are generally unhappy with the way your stomach looks.
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About Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)?
It is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin and fat from your abdomen. Today, it is among the five most popular plastic surgery procedures.
Some of the Reasons for a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty) procedure;
- It changes the aesthetic of the abdomen.
- It can also repair abdominal muscle separation.
- Loose fat and skin are removed,
- It can increase health and mobility.
Recovery Timeline and Exercising after Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
As with any other surgical procedure, the abdominoplasty procedure demands some downtime. The recovery timeline outlined below is an estimate: your recovery time may be slightly shorter or longer, depending on several factors.
Please consult your plastic surgeon with any questions or concerns you may have.
Week 1
- During the first week, it is important to refrain from any kind of physical activity.
- However, very short and slow walks around the house are great.
- They increase the blood flow and speed up recovery.
- In the first few days post-op, make sure that there is someone around to help you.
- It’s also important to eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
- Sleep and sleep position are equally important.
- Make sure that you are sleeping in a reclined position, to keep the abdominal muscles loose and relaxed.
- After the initial few days, you may go on long slow walks around your neighbourhood or across the street. However, you should avoid;
- Standing for prolonged periods of time
- Bending over
- Stretching
- Or, lifting anything heavy.
- You will receive a compression garment that you must wear.
- This garment puts mild pressure on your abdomen to keep the tummy in place and to help the body reabsorb any extra fluids that may accumulate causing swelling.
- You will also be given instructions on taking pain medication to reduce discomfort.
Week 2
- Mild exercise is encouraged, although special attention should be paid to not lifting anything heavy and not performing over-strenuous exercises.
- During this week, the compression garment is still worn.
- You may take pain relievers as your doctor dictates.
Weeks 3 – 4
- You can resume some forms of exercise, provided they do not involve the abdominal muscles.
- Rest often and for a prolonged time.
- You may go back to work as long as it is not physically strenuous.
- Continue to eat a healthy well-balanced diet and make sure you drink plenty of fluids.
Week 5 – 6
- You can resume low-level exercise.
- This includes lifting light weights (approximately 1-2 kg) as well as exercises involving arms and legs.
- Longer walks are still great.
- During this period, make sure to listen to the signals your body is sending you: is there any pain, pressure, or heat that you may be feeling? If so, please refrain from exercising for a while longer.
- If the warning signs do not go away in a reasonable period, please contact your specialist plastic surgeon.
Weeks 7 – 8
- You can resume most forms of exercise at this stage. However, this still excludes any particularly strenuous activities, such as heavy lifting, boxing or any extreme sports.
- You can swim only if your plastic surgeon gives you the all-clear.
- Both, running outside and on a treadmill may also be resumed.
Week 8+
- You can resume most activities at this point.
- However, you may still have to wait if exercises are particularly strenuous.
- Make sure you wait past three months post-op to resume these more difficult activities.
Exercise after Abdominoplasty – Why is it important?
Exercise promotes blood flow and quick recovery times. Furthermore, exercise is a great way to clear your mind and feel better after post-op downtime. Always remember to follow your doctor’s guidelines, since any injury can result in a prolonged recovery time.
In the first days after the procedure, very light exercise is done, in the form of walking. This is to increase the blood flow and increase the speed of recovery.
In the next few days, or as your surgeon indicates, slightly heavier forms of physical activity can be done. Longer walks and light arm and leg exercises are encouraged to keep you in shape and further stimulate blood flow. However, should any warning signs appear, stop exercising and consult with your surgeon.
As the healing progresses you can resume more and more activities. As a rule of thumb, you will need to avoid swimming and heavy lifting the longest. This is due to the fact, that swimming can cause an infection of the wound. Heavy lifting can also reopen the wound and cause bleeding or infection.
FAQs about exercise after a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
DOES A TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty) MAKE YOUR WAIST SMALLER?
- Yes. Although not necessarily intentional, a tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) can make your waist somewhat smaller.
- The removal of the fatty tissues under the skin and the extra skin has a tightening effect.
- If you combine a tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) with liposuction or even with tightening of the abdominal muscles, the waist can get smaller.
HOW LONG AFTER A TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty) CAN I SLEEP ON MY SIDE?
- You should sleep in a reclined position for at least a few weeks after an abdominoplasty procedure. This is to aid with any tightness that you may be experiencing post-op and to assist with recovery.
- You can sleep on your side safely after some 6-8 weeks or once you get the all-clear from your surgeon.
- If any mishaps took place post-op, consult your surgeon before making any changes to your sleep position.
DOES A TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty) LIFT YOUR PUBIC AREA?
- No. That is not the intention of a tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty).
- A tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) procedure addresses the abdomen only.
HOW LONG DOES THE TIGHTNESS LAST AFTER A TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty)?
- Some tightness is normal after a tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) procedure. Your skin was stretched and now it needs some time to adjust and heal completely.
- The feeling of intense tightness will stay around for about a week after the procedure. Then, it gradually fades away as the skin stretches and the nerves recover.
- You can expect abdominal tightness to last for some 6 to 12 weeks, although in a much milder form.
HOW LONG AFTER TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty) DO YOU SEE RESULTS?
- You will be able to see most results 3 months post-op. Be mindful that it may take up to a full year to see complete results, including the look of the scar.
- In the initial period after the surgery, the results cannot be seen because of the swelling that may take place.
- Remember, swelling is a normal part of the healing routine. You can minimise discomfort by using a compression garment.
CAN A TUMMY TUCK (Abdominoplasty) COME UNDONE?
- Tummy tucks are considered permanent.
- The skin and the fat tissue that our surgeons remove cannot grow back.
- However, you should be aware that weight fluctuations, pregnancies and menopause can make your skin stretch further.
- Furthermore, some research points to the possibility that new fat cells may form later in life.
HOW SOON CAN YOU WORK OUT AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- Approximately, 7-10 weeks after your procedure your surgeon will probably clear you for normal exercise.
- In addition, 6 weeks post-op you may be able to resume your exercise routine. However, only as a very mild form, your surgeon will advise you on this.
- Furthermore, you will need to postpone any weight-lifting after until the healing is complete. This is normally a minimum of 12 weeks.
- You may resume exercise without muscle repair sometime sooner.
HOW MUCH CAN I WALK AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY ?
- We recommend some mild form of walking a few days post-surgery, such as, around your house or to the mailbox.
- NO exercise the day or the evening of the surgery.
- After the first couple of days, you may resume some slow walking around your yard, and around your neighbourhood on the second-week post-op.
CAN I DO SQUATS AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- Any form of light leg exercise is fine during the first 4 weeks of the recovery timeline.
- This does not imply performing the exercise with any kind of weights or additional upper-body movement, such as elliptical with the arms.
- If you experience any pain or discomfort, stop the exercise immediately and consult your plastic surgeon.
CAN I WALK ON THE TREADMILL AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- Yes, you can.
- Approximately six weeks after the procedure is enough for your body to heal enough to allow for some cardiovascular exercises.
- Make sure not to make them too long or strenuous: remember that you exercise to improve circulation here and still need to preserve energy that your body will use to recover from the procedure.
WHEN CAN I STRETCH AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- You should always remember that your body needs to heal. The skin around the incision site needs to attach and so do the abdomen muscles.
- Give your body sufficient time to rest and recover after abdominoplasty surgery.
- You must avoid any exercise that is too strenuous, such as stretching (strenuous on the tissues that are healing) until your plastic surgeon says it is OK to resume a normal workout routine.
CAN I DO SIT-UPS AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- You should avoid any core exercises for at least 12 weeks after the surgery.
- If there were any complications post-op, this period maybe even longer.
- It is important not to put any pressure on your abdominal and core muscles, to let them heal properly.
CAN YOU TONE YOUR STOMACH AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- You should avoid any muscle toning exercises, especially core muscle exercises.
- Your surgeon will provide you with an exercise timeline that you must strictly follow. What happens if you lift too much you can increase pressure in the region that is still healing which in turn increases your chance of injury.
DO FAT CELLS RETURN AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- The fat cells that are taken during your procedure cannot come back.
- However, some research shows that new fat cells may form and that the remaining fat cells can increase their size.
- So maintain a balanced diet and regular exercise.
HOW CAN I AVOID WEIGHT GAIN AFTER AN ABDOMINOPLASTY?
- Maintaining a well-balanced diet, drinking plenty of fluids and exercising regularly will help you both to avoid weight gain and to keep the muscles toned, thus maximising the results the procedure yields.
- In any case, strict obedience to your plastic surgeon’s post-op regime is necessary.
- In addition to following your surgeon’s postoperative guidelines for proper and efficient healing, maintaining a stable weight is essential. Tummy tuck (Abdominoplasty) patients should avoid significant weight fluctuations by eating a healthy, balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising regularly.
Conclusion
Tummy tuck/abdominoplasty is a proven procedure for the removal of excess skin and extra fat tissue from your abdomen.
Further Reading about Exercise after a Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty)
- 7 Questions People Ask About Tummy Tuck Recovery – Coco Ruby Plastic Surgery
- Tips for Recovery and Activities After Tummy Tuck – Dr Craig Rubinstein
- Tummy Tuck Recovery: What to Expect – Healthline
- Tummy Tuck | Patient Guide – The American Board of Cosmetic Surgery
- Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck) – Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
