Tummy Tuck Recovery after Surgery

Here are some helpful tips about recovery from Tummy Tuck surgery (Abdominoplasty).

Firstly, no surgery or tummy tuck recovery is ever identical. Each abdominoplasty surgery is as unique as the patient who has the procedure. Each person’s recovery period after a Tummy Tuck will also be unique.

Secondly, a variety of genetic and lifestyle factors may impact your actual Tummy Tuck recovery experiences. These include:

• Your perceptions, your individual sensitivities, your environment
• Your sleeping habits and emotional state
• Your understanding of what to expect
• Your nutritional choices and whether or not you smoke

Thirdly, your discomfort or healing period length may vary depending on:

• Your tolerance for discomfort and your pain receptors
• Whether or not your Surgeon used drains
• Whether you had a complication such as an infection or bleeding
• Your patience levels for healing
• How long you can rest before having to resume your normal responsibilities
• Remember, whatever you do, do NOT smoke. Ever. Not even one.

*Smoking of any kind greatly increases all of your risks related to having plastic surgery, including risks related to Tummy Tuck surgery. If you haven’t quit smoking yet, don’t have surgery – or get professional help immediately to quit.

1. What is the normal recovery time for a tummy tuck?

• The recovery time from a Tummy Tuck surgery can vary from patient to patient.
• It can be helpful to allow 3 months or more to feel completely recovered – although most patients are through the majority of the healing period in just a few week’s time.
• Bruising and swelling, can take longer than 2 weeks.
• On average, you’ll need 2 weeks or more off of your normal work, parenting and home responsibilities; plus another 6 to 12 weeks to allow your body to recover and heal.

2. What you can and can’t do after getting a Tummy Tuck?

• You’ll typically can’t DRIVE a car, lift children or anything else, for several weeks after having a Tummy Tuck.
• You’ll typically need to wait about 10-12 weeks before resuming any more strenuous activities, sometimes longer.
• High impact sports or training should be avoided for the duration specified by your Surgeon.
• If you are a competitive athlete, discuss your competition goals and your schedule with your Surgery planning team as far in advance as possible.
• Remember, when you get a Tummy Tuck, your body has been through reconstructive surgery.
• You may not feel fully healed for up to 3 months to as long as 4 or 5 months.
• Some patients say their healing felt like it took 6 months to up to a year – remember, every person’s different.
• But in general, most patients get back to the majority of their normal day to day activities within a period of a few months.
• Be patient!

3. How painful is a Tummy Tuck?

It may even leave you feeling as if you can’t stand tall. In time, the skin will adjust and the sensations will become less uncomfortable.

• Discomfort and the sensation of extreme abdominal skin tightness (that leaves you feeling you can’t properly stand up or stretch tall) will typically subside over a period of several days to several weeks.
• This is part of the process of getting you a tighter, flatter tummy.
• The scar maturation of your incision lines can take up to a year to fully mature (we offer special minimisation treatments, ask us during a consultation).

4. What are some tips to help me heal and recover faster?

• Even if you’re healthy, don’t expect to ‘bounce back’ quickly – especially if you had a sophisticated procedure that included liposuction shaping as well as an Abdominoplasty and Diastasis Recti Repair.
• Make sure you have someone there to help you for – ideally – a week or two after surgery (prepare meals, help you dress/bathe or go to the bathroom) – as your body is going to need healing time.
• Don’t push yourself or you could harm your incision lines, including leading to an infection or tearing out your stitches – or lead to a bigger scar.
• Do your research so you know what to expect.
• Be patient about how long it takes; expect variance.
• Use your RAPID RECOVERY TIPS as instructed, including all suggested supplements and probiotics.
• Set your healing environment up to be conducive to resting and recovery (make it a nice place to sleep, rest and heal).

Ask your Plastic Surgeon for information and support if you have any concerns about your healing process or your incision line care.