Acupuncture to Help with Post-op Tummy Tuck Recovery? (photo)

Post-op acupuncture is said to increase vascular & lymphatic blood circulation, reduce pain, reduce swelling, and assist with nerve regeneration. Is there truly a benefit to post-op acupuncture? What timing in post-op recovery would you recommend? What else should I know about acupuncture which I may not be thinking about?

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5 Doctor Answers | Asked by MaleTucker in Iowa

Doctor Answers (5)
Community Comments (3)

Acupuncture increases blood flow to affected areas

Acupuncture increases blood flow to affected areas. In addition, acupuncture can decrease inflammation and increase lymphatic bloodflow. Acupuncture has also been found to reduce pain. I see nothing wrong with doing acupuncture after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty. The only thing I would caution you about is having your therapist keep the acupuncture needles from going directly into the incision. Also most patients after an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck have an area of numbness below the... more

Acupuncture after Tummy Tuck

As I cannot substantiate any purported benefit of acupuncture following tummy tuck, I cannot recommend it. Kenneth Hughes, MD male tummy tuck Los Angeles, CA

Tummy tuck

I dont know that anyone has done a well controlled study measuring the effects of acupuncture on the rate of healing after abominoplasty. Any information would be anecdotal. Listen to the advice give by your own doc

Acupuncture to Help with Post-op Tummy Tuck Recovery

Without commenting on how successful this might be, I would only caution to wait until all your incisions are clean and free of any drainage. Usually that will be about 2 weeks for most. Best wishes.

Acupunture after male tummy tuck

Assuming you are about 2 weeks after your tummy tuck, this may help: the swelling you have is normal, wearing a garment for 4-6 weeks will help more than anything else, I recommend no acupuncture until all pain is gone - about 3 weeks Acupuncture research shows that it improves recovery from nerve injuries. I can find now studies showing that liposuction improves liposuction recovery.

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Comments (3)

ABSCAPE 26 Jan 2013

I chose to have acupuncture 4 weeks after surgery. i chose an acupuncturist who specializes in medical acupuncture with hospital experience. I personally feel the healing time was greatly shortened, my swelling (along with binder from Doctor) was virtually non-existent. The sensations in the abdominal area returned quicker and were less irritating by comparing my healing with other abdominoplasties on this site. I kept reading about the recovery experiences and noticed only a couple who tried acupuncture. I had been treated by acupuncture for a chronic shoulder pain that no doctor could figure out. One acupuncture session and 2 years of pain were gone; this is the experience I had when I considered acupuncture for post abdominoplasty. Ironically my acupuncturist had treated another tummy tuck patient and knew which "zones" to start working on. I started at 2 times per week for 4 weeks. Then went in once a week for 4 weeks. Then every other week for 3 more visits. (5% of "normal" sensation has returned to my surgery area. If I had to guess the acupuncture treatments greatly improved my recovery, even if it helped me feel like I was doing something proactive. It worked and I loved the entire experience.

MaleTucker 26 Jan 2013

Abscape, thanks for the reply! You were my I aspiration to try it. I have gone 2-3 times a week for 3 weeks now and can't really tell if it's helping or not. I think it is but worst case scenario is you 2nd to last sentence. At least I feel like I am doing everything in my power to help progress witb a successful recovery.