Running after tummy tuck?

Regarding "I run an average of 4 to 7 miles at 3 to 5 times a week". I admire your discipline and feel sympathetic exhaustion just reading it. But - I WOULD NOT resume such exercises for at least 6-8 weeks after your operation. To understand why - consider what Plastic surgeons do in a tummy... more

If you have a tummy tuck with muscle repair, then 3 weeks is too early to start jogging.  The muscle repair is the equivalent of a hernia repair, and you do NOT want to stress it too early.  Even if you feel great, your body has not healed to the point where it can withstand the force generated from... more

It sounds like you are starting your workout regimen a bit too soon. Tummy tuck patients require longer recuperations than most other surgeries that I perform.  Patients are instructed to avoid aerobic type activity for at least 3-4 weeks and heavy lifting or sit-ups for 6-8 weeks. This rule is of course... more

Running 7, I appreciate your enthusiasm for running.  You also probably have a high tolerance for pain, but there is no way that you will be able to achieve that level of exercise 3 1/2 weeks after a tummy tuck. It will simply be too painful, aside from the fact that you will likely tear the stitches that... more

Hi there, There are many different variations on the tummy tuck, but if your planned procedure will involve tightening of your abdominal muscles, I would personally not want you running (not even lightly) until the 6 week point. Human scars do not gain in strength in a linear fashion after surgery, but rather... more

In general most patients wouldn't feel like agressive running until about 6 weeks after a "full" abdominoplasty.  After checking with your  surgeon you should be able to start with brisk walking or perhpas an elliptical trainer at about 3 weeks. The bouncing and pounding from running will... more

It may be pushing it a bit to begin that type of training after 3 weeks, but do what your plastic surgeon advises. I tell my patients that within 3 weeks they can begin some light cardio such as fast walking on a treadmill and work up gradually from there.

All patients are different, and some do heal more quickly than others, but 3 weeks is not enough time. With that level of training and the amount of running you are planning on doing, you need at least 5 weeks. I recommend to all my tummy tuck patients to wait at least 6 weeks to resume full activity, but 5... more

Wound healing strength increases significantly from the 14th day after surgery up to two years after surgery, when the optimal strength will have been achieved. At 6-8 weeks after surgery, your wound healing strength should be at 60-70%. At 3 weeks, you are too weak to start running. Be patient!

Every patient and every surgeon is different, but we do not recommend light running after TT until 4 weeks postop. The dangers in exercising too early are swelling or fluid formation.  Often the lower abdomen gets very firm if the patient "overdoes it", and then subsides as they take it easy... more