Tummy Tuck Survival Tips for the Working Woman

Wow, that's great! I sure couldn't have dreamed of it. You may be the exception to the rule, though.

My guess is everyone's recovery time is different. By 3 weeks I was completely fine and loved being back at work, no problems at all.

What took time for me was getting my daily workouts back but was able to do that by my week 5.

I have to say, that doesn't sound like much time to really get back to work. Even at 3 weeks, the sitting and standing can wear you out. I think pushing to recover quickly can really backfire, or at least prolong your full recovery.

This is major surgery, not popping out a baby and returning to the fields.

You're not nuts to start your planning early - your surgery date will arrive in a blink and as you know with business, it's always good to be a step ahead. Your husband will appreciate all your planning once you're home & starting the recovery process - mine did!

Definitely baby yourself for as long as you can then ease back into work. If a workaholic like me can do it, you can too. PLUS you will LOVE your new tummy!!

Take care!!

I had my Nick at 41 so you can only imagin how my skin did not bounce back.
I will baby myself for a good ten days. It is going to be hard to stay down much longer than that. If I could only tell you what I have worked through before.
I am starting the positive thoughts for recovery.
Thanks for the info. I have already set up the command center in my mind in my bedroom.....my husband thinks I'm nuts the way my mind works so far ahead.

Hello Nicks Mom, (I have a Nick too but he's grown)

You're right to be concerned about emailing on pain meds. While you're in the first week to 10 days of recovery, your pain meds will affect your judgment. I tried to kick them ASAP and had my PS prescribe something non-narcotic at my 1 week check up so I could function more clearly.

My assistant had to tell me what I said during a conf call on Day 5 since I didn't remember it hours later. Luckily for me, I was pretty clear by Day 10.

Everyone's recovery time is different. I was up and functioning sooner than most. Just trust your own best judgment during recovery. If you feel you're not ready to work, take your time. For me, my work helped me focus & stay sane.

Best wishes!

Any more words of wisdom on working while recovering would be great. I am worried about emailing while on meds. Since I am in sales it is hard to let anyone else do my work load and they will pile up. Even when I go on vacation I work a few hours a day. I hope I have your quick recovery.

Hello Sharon and thanks! I wanted to let other working women know it is possible to function during tummy tuck recovery.

I'm a senior partner for a very successful company and YES I am a workaholic. LOL!! Actually, my work schedule dictated the timing of my surgery and I was determined to keep on top of things. The most difficult part for me was to literally "let go" and allow my support team to do their jobs. My executive assistant is worth her weight in gold; I couldn't have done it without her.

As a business woman, I used my work skills to prepare for this surgery. I considered it like I would any other business project; planning is key. Take care of everything you possibly can prior to surgery, then delegate. Take care of your personal needs too. Once at home, you’ll initially hate being dependent but you have no choice. Let your caretakers do their job.

1. Transform a location in your home to your “nest” and secondary work station. I commandeered the master bedroom suite and my husband happily moved into a guest room.

2. Keep your communication devices next to you. I kept my IPhone with me at all times; texting kept me in touch with everyone. My IPad was my lifesaver; email, business news; books; movies; shopping; discovered Real Self, etc.

3. Set up the “out of office” reply on your work email. Most non-emergency issues can wait. For those that require immediate attention, you can reply. Again, don’t forget to delegate.

4. Avoid any conference calls during the first week (being incoherent even for a moment requires an explanation!)

5. I did attend an important meeting on Day 7. Needed support staff to get ready, survived the full two hours. I wouldn’t recommend it but I managed to pull it off.

6. No business air travel until you get your doctor’s clearance and feel strong enough. It’s enough of a fiasco when you’re in good shape.

7. You can accomplish a lot once the fog of your pain meds clear. Working kept me sane during my recovery at home!