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How Much Can I Exercise After Male Tummy Tuck?

Hi, I am going to have the tummy tuck op because 3 years ago I lost significant weight. Despite all exercise my waist still needs improvement. Will I be able to exercise again regularly and do long sets of ab exercises as I do now (not immediately after the op. but in a 3-4 month time period)?

Asked 44 months ago by John S

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exercise fitness

+10

Activity and Exercise post Abdominoplasty : Get moving!

Absolutely! In 3 or 4 monthhs you can do as you please includiing sky diving and bungy cord junping I tell my patients. I am a believer in early activity. Even after large muscle repairs, I allow 100% activity in 4 weeks and begin gradually at the gym in2 weeks. i have my patients up and walking the same day as the operation and progressively from there. i have never had a muscle separation or wound separation ever. I have never had a... more

George Commons, MD

Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

What are the risks of exercise in the early post-op period

I agree with most of the comments posted by the other plastic surgeons below. You may wonder why we all have such strong opinions and post-operative care instructions for our patients. It is important to understand the risks of exercise in the early post-operative period following abdominoplasty. Here's a quick summary - in no particular order. First - any narcotics that you are using to control the pain can make working out dangerous. In my San Francisco area practice I advise patients... more

Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Allow muscles to heal but exercise can even help if done properly.

Clearly you need time for the muscles to heal together and this takes a minimum o f6 weeks. There is great variation in the opinions of when it is best for you to resume exercise and so I would defer to your operating surgeon who will have the best knowledge of your anatomy (i.e., how far apart) and repair (i.e., how tight?) after surgery. However, the correct exercise if done properly can not only reinforce but enhance the repair as well. Please ask your surgeon for quidance. However, I... more

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Exercise Program after Tummy Tuck

I typically allow my patients to do brisk walking and light cardio at 2 weeks after tummy tuck. At this point they are still wearing their abdominal binders for support. As they are able the typically get back into full treadmill by 2 weeks. Weight lifting may not begin until 4 weeks and then it's very light. I think it's important to wait and refrain from ANY sit-ups or weight training that targets the abdominal muscles until at least 6 weeks. I think this allows ample time for the... more

James F. Boynton, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Exercise after tummy tuck

Ask 10 plastic surgeons and you get 10 different answers....Here is what I tell patients. We want to get you back to the gym/exercising, however, WE will be your personal trainer over the next 1 year. We will require that you get out of bed on the first day after surgery, every 2 hours, like it or not (most patients are sore after surgery, but not in so much pain that they cannot move around). After 2 weeks, we make sure you increase your activity to include 20-30 minutes of cardio a day,... more

John Philip Connors III, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

You should get back to your normal routine

After 3-4 months, you will have no restrictions, and should be on the way back to returning to your "pre-tuck" routine. You will notice a few things that make sense: After having taken a break from exercising for 6-8 weeks, you will be deconditioned, and it will take some time to build up your stamina Crunches and the like are not a problem (they do take some getting used to...) - it is the back extension and arching exercises that are done in some types of Yoga that are an issue... more

Michael A. Bogdan, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Consider what's being done prior to considering postoperative activity

Your surgeon typically performs plication (tightening) of your abdominis rectus (abdominal) muscles during your abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). Generally, you should avoid activity other than ambulation and light walking the first four weeks after surgery. This will generally allow your incision line time to heal without complications. After four weeks I generally encourage my patients to start light to moderate activity. But because of the plication you should not perform other than light... more

Jeffrey D. Hoefflin, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Exercise after tummy tuck recovery in Los Angeles

Most women can start exercising in about 3-4 weeks after a tummy tuck. abdominal exercises and sit ups are usually not recommended for at least two months after a tummy tuck.

S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Exercise after tummy tuck

I recommend avoiding strenuous activity after a tummy tuck surgery for approximately three months. You can certainly do aerobic activities such as an ellipitical machine, stair machine, or stationary bike, as these are low impact and will be more comfortable for you in the early recovery. Avoid sit-ups for several months after surgery as this will directly stress the surgical repair of your abdominal muscles. If the surgical repair of your abs was done sufficiently, there will be little... more

William Bruno, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Exercise after tummy tuck

Like all surgeries you will need about 6wks to heal completely. However, recovery occurs in phases. You can usually begin some light cardiovascular exercise in about 2-3wks and some upper body exercise in about 3-4wks and do more from there. As for the crunches and abdominal exercises - it is best to wait about 3-6mo. We have a personal trainer that specifically deals with postop recovery. That is the best way to learn how to do core strengthening without hurting your surgical outcome.... more

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

After surgery it is wise not to do any activities that...

After surgery it is wise not to do any activities that elevate your heart rate and blood pressure above a resting rate for about 2 weeks. This is to minimize the chance of delayed bleeding. After a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) you can begin exercises such as treadmill workouts at that point but avoid abdominal straining exercises for 8 weeks since it takes that long for the muscle repair to reach its fullest healing strength.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Exercise following tummy tuck

Brisk walking 2-3 weeks and unrestricted exercise after 6-8 weeks is the general rule in my practice. Of course, this differs from patient to patient. Your plastic surgeon can help you make these very important decisions during your routine post operative visits.

Michael Orseck, MD

Spartanburg Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Exercise after Abdominoplasty

My advice is to be up and walking as soon as possible following a Tummy Tuck. Walking is the best way to prevent blood clots (DVT) in your legs. If you have had a repair and tightening of the abdominal muscles during the abdominoplasty, you should avoid lifting and straining your abdominal muscles for about six weeks. At six weeks the internal scarring that suports the muscle repair is strong enough for exercise. Be certain to start slowly... more

Richard L. Dolsky, MD

Philadelphia Plastic Surgeon

You can exercise after tummy tuck.

Congratulations on losing weight! Tummy tuck is a great operation to achieve a good abdominal contour after a weight loss. It is going to be a great surgery for you if you have moderate/severe excess skin and mild/moderate amount of excess fat. You should be able to walk right after tummy tuck. You can do light exercise 3-4 weeks after tummy tuck (no heavy lifting or sit ups). After 6 weeks, you can resume your exercise routine. Yes, you can... more

Sugene Kim, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Exercise after a tummy tuck is great! (once you're healed)

Of course you may still exercise and even do strenuous ab work after a tummy tuck. When the muscle repair is done, the muscles aren't cut--they're just moved back into their original position and sewn in place. So you don't lose any strength. Enjoy your workouts, which will only improve your overall results! Just wait at least 3 months before adding the strenuous ab work to your workouts--or wait until your own surgeon has given the go-ahead. more

Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Excercise after Tummy Tuck

By the begining of the fourth week patients start a mild form of excercise, which gradually increase, but remain comfortable to the patient. By 6 weeks, patients are back in the gym.

Samir Shureih, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Heavy Exercise after a Tummy Tuck

Every Plastic Surgeon has his/her own opinion on this topic. In my opinion it is best if you did NOT exercises for 4-6 weeks. This should allow the skin/fat flap which was lifted to both repair the muscle separation and to remove the loose skin, to stick down to the abdominal muscles. At that time you can gradually return to gym activities. I would prefer you did NOT engage in your "long sets of ab exercises" - There is NO need for doing them. By doing crunches etc you will be... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD

Memphis Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Exercise after tummy tuck

I recommend no heavy lifting or strenuous activity (no exercise) for at least 6 weeks after tummy tuck. After six weeks, I encourage patients to slowly resume exercise routines *gradually*. Remember, during the six week postoperative period - you will be deconditioned. I do prepare patients to notice some increased swelling once exercise is resumed. Over the next several weeks, this post-exercise edema will no longer manifest.

C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

My typical post operative restrictions are no lifting...

My typical post operative restrictions are no lifting greater than 10 lbs for three weeks. This is a difficult period where you want to exercise to improve your new waistline but can't do so. I tell my patients to switch to a low carb, low calorie diet during this period so that we don't lose ground in this period. At three weeks you can slowly advance your activity to what is comfortable without causing soreness. At six weeks you can perform any exercise, including sit-ups, which challenge... more

Pramit Malhotra, MD

Ann Arbor Plastic Surgeon

Exercise after weight loss reconstruction

Unless your muscles have been damaged from prior surgery, exercise should resume naturally. An abdominoplasty realigns muscles but does not alter their function. In fact, when aligned properly, they should respond better to exercise.

Timothy Fee, MD

Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Post Operative Care After a Tummy Tuck

One of the key restructures after a tummy tuck is that it will take at least 3-4 weeks to resume a significant amount of your post-operative activity. I usually allow my patients to resume most rigorous physical exercise at 4 weeks and abdominal wall exercises by 6 weeks, especially if you have done a full abdominoplasty with repair to the diastasis rectus muscles. It is important to allow for normal wound healing before having a patient to begin full aggressive exercise activities. I will... more

Rod J. Rohrich, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Exercise after tummy tuck

From the description of you condition you may not need extensive abdominal wall reconstruction to get a good result. This will change your recovery and your ability to exercise. If you do require extensive abdominal wall work the recovery will be much longer and gradual. If I fix a weekness in the abdominal wall I don't allow sit-ups for a year, as an example. Having said that we are always encouraging our patients to begin gradually increasing exercise... more

Talmage J. Raine, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

EXERCISE POST TUMMY TUCK SHOULD PROGRESS TO UNRESTRICTED ACTIVITIES WITHIN 2 MONTHS

FULL UNRESTRICTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 6 - 8 WEEKS POST ABDOMINOPLASTY In a tummy tuck procedure: the excess skin and adipose tissue are removed from the lower abdomen, and the abdominal wall muscles may or may not be tightened. It is the rectus muscle tightening, if performed, that will determine how quickly you start working on your abdominal muscles. Generally, by the end of the third week light cardio is permitted, but full abdominal strengthening will only be... more

Carlos Cordoba, MD

Montreal Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

You can continue to exercise after tummy tuck

Exercise is great and you can certainly return to it after surgery, but only when you get the green light from your surgeon. Sometimes, we do a significant amount of tightening of the fascia or muscles, and you wouldn't want to strain that and lessen your result. If you can do heavy exercise yet, keep your routine going by doing light walking if that's OK with your surgeon.

Mario Loomis, MD

Middletown Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Working out after Surgery

This is a great question. Many of my patients ask the same thing. You want to ease your way back into a workout routine. You don't want to stress your body out. Doing abdomen excercise 3 or 4 months after surgery is fine.