Tightness and Difficulty Standing Up Post-Tummy Tuck

I had an abdominoplasty and umbilical hernia repair 2 1/2 weeks ago (to repair the recti diastisis and umbilical hernia after having my twins four years ago), and I am getting really concerned that after a little more than two weeks, I still can't stand up straight. The tightness is still so intense, that I am still flexed at the hips slightly. My background is in fitness and dance, and I expected to bounce back more quickly because of my fitness level, however this has been much tougher than I expected. Is it normal at this point to still not be able to stand up fully straight, and feel such intense tightness at the incision site?

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28 Doctor Answers | Asked by sheribrock in Hollywood, FL

Doctor Answers (28)
Community Comments (1)

When to stand straight after a tummy tuck

As you can see from the differing answers, every surgeon has their own opinion on what is "right" as far as when you should be able to stand straight. In my mind, the goal of the operation is to restore a tight / flat abdomen that will last you the rest of your life (as long as your weight is stable and you don't have future pregnancies). As such, I'm fairly aggressive in how much skin I remove, and I request that my patients say fully bent over for the first week, and then... more

Don't be alarmed, this is not unusual after an abdominoplasty

I do a lot of "mommy makeovers," and I tell my patients that the abdominoplasty part is the toughest! After having quads, your abdominal wall was way over stretched, and you lived like that for four years. Now it is very tight and you are not used to the feeling. Start straightening up slowly (you might find that the abdominal wall feels tightest in the morning and it gets better as you move around), do not push yourself. Allow your body to heal. I do not allow my patients to do... more

Fit patients often have the toughest tummy tuck recovery

As a fitness instructor, you have the most toned muscles. The larger the muscle and the more toned the muscle, the less lax it will be when it is pulled and tightened. Although 2 and a half weeks is longer than most, it is not unheard of for fit people like yourself to take longer than the weaker patient. Relax- it will get better!

It's not unusual to still feel tightness, but you should straighten up by this point.

There are essentially 2 areas of tightness after a tummy tuck. Most commonly, women can feel tightness over the length of the abdominal wall from the upper abdomen to the pubic region. This is normal because of the internal stitching that tightens and flattens the abdominal wall. This sensation can last for weeks and months, but you should still straighten your back and walk erect by one week after surgery (the strain on your lower back can result in a great deal of lower back pain). The... more

You should get better day by day.

SheriBrock, Usually after abdominoplasty it takes about 1 to 2 weeks before you can stand up straight. So, you soon should be getting better. I have found that some patients are afraid to stand up straight, so they really have to push themselves to do it. At this point, you are not going to hurt yourself by standing up. Make sure you follow-up closely with your surgeon to make sure there are not any other issues. Good luck. David Shafer, MD New York City

Tight feeling after tummy tuck is common

All patients after tummy tuck will experience a degree of tightness which can last for several week after the procedure. Most however stand up right away and we encourage walking at home the day after and discourage any bed rest. The tightness may be caused by muscle stiffness, or tightness in the skin as well. Also tightness and heaviness can be caused by a fluid collection called a seroma. After two weeks you may want to continue to wear an abdominal binder or transition to a Spanx or... more

Not unusual after tummy tuck

Hi there- While most patients would be further along in their recovery than you seem to be at this point in time, I would not by any means want you to think that what you are experiencing is unusual or necessarily indicative of a postoperative complication. Muscular plication as is performed in most types of tummy tucks, causes significant discomfort, tightness, and cramping in many patients and this can last several weeks. Most patients are able to cautiously stand upright after one week or... more

It may take several weeks for the tension felt after a tummy tuck to abate.

Most patients at 2 and 1/2 weeks can stand straight, but not all. You will eventually resumes normal function but it may be a few weeks longer. Check with your surgeon and stay in contact with him. But I would not worry about your condition at this time.

Difficulty standing up straight after tummy tuck

Tummy tucks are a popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. During the procedure, we remove skin and fat from the lower abdomen and then bring the upper abdominal skin down to the pubic region. This can create tightness in the lower abdominal region. It is common for patients to feel tightness and not be able to stand completely straight for the first 3 to 5 days after their surgery. If you continue to feel tightness and have difficulty standing 2.5 weeks after your tummy tuck,... more

Stay calm and work toward standing straight soon

The more muscle laxity you start with, the more tightening you require to get a flat tight abdomen. Some surgeons take a bit more skin out and this can lock a patient in to a bent position longer than necessary. Anxiety will also cause you to feel tighter so try to relax and take some warm showers and gently work to get to a full standing position. It may hurt a little, but it won't hurt your result at all.