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Full TT 4 Weeks Before Vaca Too Soon?

asked 1 year ago by IL8157 in Peoria, IL
Latest answer by C. Bob Basu, MD
Question viewed 497 times
Tags: recovery, travel, vacation

My husband and I have a paid trip to Cancun Jan 13th and I want to do my TT on Dec 15th because I have time off work (I work at a college so we have 3 weeks off for winter break). This gives me exactly 4 weeks before we leave for vacation. Will I be miserable on vacation? If I elect not to do the TT, I will have to wait until December 2011.

18 answers to Full TT 4 Weeks Before Vaca Too Soon?

+2

Time off for tummy tuck

Patients 4 weeks after tummy tucks are typically back to work and doing mild aerobic exercise.  They are by no means fully recovered. So if your vacation consists of splashing around in the water a little and drinking Mai Tai's, you should typically be fine.  However, if parasailing and scuba diving are on your list, you will want to postpone your surgery. Patients generally feel OK doing more strenuous exercise after 6-8 weeks.
Brent Moelleken, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.drbrent.com

+2

Vacation 4 Wks After Tummy Tuck

That's really cutting it close.   I would tell you to go enjoy your vacation and plan for a tummy tuck later.   However, if you plan to just relax and not swim or do any strenuous activity, it may be OK.  Talk to your plastic surgeon.
C. Bob Basu, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

+1

TT recovery

I would recommend waiting.  You may not be very comfortable on vacation and if a complication shoul occur, then you may have minor dressing changes to do on vacation which would also be uncomfortable and possibly unsanitary.
Samer W. Cabbabe, MD

Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Traveling after a Tummy Ttuck

It would be risky to go on vacation only 4 weeks after Tummy Tuck surgery. You should be wearing a compression garment for 6 weeks. If you are going to Cancun I would assume that you would want to wear a bathing suit and partake in water activities. I would recommend that you see if you can postpone your trip so that you can really enjoy your vacation when you are more fully healed.
Miguel Delgado, Jr., MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

www.dr-delgado.com

+1

Recovery Time after tummy Tuck

The last thing you want to do is spend all of the time on vacation being unable to fully participate as you recover from a fairly major operation.  Even though the name tummy tuck sound cute and easy, it is a real hit to your abdomen and we use our abdomen in almost every movement we make.  The abdomen is either stabilizing us as we do something with our arms, or it is helping to propel us forward while we walk, reach or run.  A vacation that is focused on healing an... more
Jay Calvert, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck candidate

Recovery after a tummy tuck is usually 2weeks so you should be OK unless you experience some delayed healing, complications. There will definitely still be swelling and the scar will not look that great but you should be able to do most everything. Consult with your plastic surgeon though. Watch my You Tube videos
Edward J. Domanskis, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck recovery

If you are leaving for a vacation in 4 weeks, I would advise waiting until after the vacation.  You may be recovered at 4 weeks, but it is typical to have intermittent aches and pains for several weeks following this procedure.  Additionally, if you are unfortunate enough to experience a minor complication, this may affect your travel plans.  Good luck~
Jason R. Hess, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon
+1

I tell my patients that they need at least 4 weeks before traveling after having a tummy tuck.

I tell my patients that they need at least 4 weeks before traveling after having a tummy tuck.  This is cutting it pretty close for you. If you have any type of complication like wound healing, excess drainage, infection, etc (all of which are pretty rare) it could destroy your vacation.  It's like Murphy's law.  You would probably be fine if everything goes well, but because you have a nice vacation planned you're probably going to have a problem... more
Richard H. Fryer, MD

Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon
+1

Beach vacation 4 weeks after a tummy tuck?

You're cutting it really close.  If you can change your vacation to February, that would be better.  Give yourself at least 6 weeks of recovery.  You may be okay for your vacation after only 4 weeks, but you'll still have swelling and still be wearing compression garments.  And what if you do have an infection or a wound healing problem?  Do you want to be dealing with that on your vacation?  Better safe than sorry, I think.
Carmen Kavali, MD

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck and vacation

Having a tummy tuck and taking a vacation soon afterwards may be tough. However, if things are perfect and you heal well without complications, you should be able to do most light acitivity by 4 weeks.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon
+1

Vacation 1 month after tummy tuck

Planning a tummy tuck 1 month after a tummy tuck depends on th the type of the vacation and activities planned. Generally by 3 weeks you can perform light activities. However, it would not be wise or recommended  if you were to go water skiing or wind surfing, etc.  see video
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full TT 4 Weeks Before Vaca Too Soon

Very unpredictable in the amount of healing time. On average you should be OK but there is ALWAYS a chance you will not. Sorry but I would try to change the vacation til Feb. 2011. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski, 305 598 0091
Darryl J. Blinski, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Tummy tuck

In my experience, you need at least 2-4 weeks to feel better.  i know this from living with my wife after she had surgery.  you will probably will not feel "good" for 4-6 weeks , so you are definitely cutting it close.
David A. Lickstein, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon
+1

Recovery from a tummy tuck

Most people are back to work and their activities of daily living at four weeks. Energy levels are still not back to baseline and core exercise is restricted until about 6 weeks. It is not unusual to wake up feeling great but still feel the need to take a nap by mid day. A relaxing restful vacation is not unreasonable but vigorous or strenuous acitivities need to be avoided. This is also based on a normal recovery without complications which is the norm. A complication, which is... more
Robert W. Kessler, MD

Orange County Plastic Surgeon

www.drrobkessler.com

+1

Tummy tuck recovery

How long it takes to recover after a tummy tuck as a function of many things, one of which is what is exactly done. A tummy tuck is a generic term  and can encompass many variations. Some patients need/want a lot of muscle tightening and some do not need/want any. The less muscle manipulation the less pain and the quicker the recovery. Recovery also depends on what level of activity you "recover" to. If you want to deep-sea dive and play tennis, it might be a bit early to be... more
Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full TT 4 Weeks Before Vacation May be OK

If you are planning a relaxing vacation and are only going to be reading and basking in the sun, then 4 weeks is probably a sufficient period of time between your TT and leaving.  If, on the other hand, you plan to be more active then you should wait for your surgery.  The other unknown is a delay in wound healing or some other complication which might make you uncomfortable in being so far away.
John Whitt, MD

Louisville Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full recovery from tummy tuck is usually 6 weeks

The main issue affecting return to activity following a tummy tuck is healing the muscle repair, which takes 6 weeks. You should feel pretty good within a couple of weeks and be up and around for non-strenuous activities, so a lot depends on what you are planning to do on the vacation. Assuming your trip involves a long plane flight, it is probably wise to wear compression stockings during the flight and make sure you stretch your legs and get up frequently to minimize the risk of blood... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Full Tummy Tuck Usually Requires 6 Weeks of Recovery

When undergoing a full abdominoplasty with muscle plication of the abdominal wall, the recovery is usually at least 6 weeks.  At 4 weeks, you should be ok to go on vacation as long as you rest, take it easy, and do not plan on vigorous excursions or activities.  At the one month mark, you will still be swollen, and have intermittent pain/tightness feelings.  As long as you are healing fine and do not have any open wounds, then you should be ok as long as you take precautions... more
Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD

Barrington Plastic Surgeon

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