When Can I Go Back to Work After a Tummy Tuck?

I advice my patients to take 1-2 week off from work. Most are able to return to work after 1 week depending on the extent of surgery.

Most of our patients receive an On-Q pain pump, which delivers local anesthetic into the surgical area. Most of our patients are able to go home the same day of surgery. Pain medications are prescribed. Most of my patients no longer require pain medications after 1 week and can control the pain using over the counter medications such as Tylenol.

I use self-dissolving sutures and the wounds are all sealed with Dermabond. All my patients can take a shower immediately following surgery. Patients may receive 1 to 2 two drains which are removed after about one week. I use compressive garment after surgery to help control swelling.

Patients are encouraged to start slow walk on day 1. Most patients are able to drive after 1-2 weeks. Our patients start minor exercise after 2 weeks. I recommend gradually resuming heavy exercise after 6 weeks.

I follow my patients very closely. Patients are seen 1-2 days after surgery, then again after 1 week. The other follow up is at 3 weeks, 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and yearly. Patients are welcome to come in as often as they need. There is no charge for all follow up appointment. My patients also have full access to me and have little need to come in more than the recommended appointments.

Thank you for your question. The answer to this question all depends on what type of work you do. I have my patients who have a desk job at least stay home until the last drain is removed. If you have a more physical job I recommend no heavy lifting for 3 weeks, so these patients may be out for 3 weeks.

The compression garment that is given to my patients after surgery will remain in this for 3 weeks. After that point I have them transition into a lighter garment such as a faja or spanx for an additional 4-6 weeks.

Dear Hema Gan,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding the recovery period and post-operative care following a tummy tuck procedure.

Generally, the timeline for returning to work after a tummy tuck can vary depending on several factors, including the extent of your surgery, your overall health, and the physical demands of your job. However, most patients can expect to take about two to four weeks off from work to allow for adequate rest and recovery.

During the initial stages of your recovery, you may experience some discomfort, swelling, and limited mobility, which can impact your ability to perform certain tasks comfortably. It's essential to prioritize rest and avoid any strenuous activities or heavy lifting during this time to support the healing process.

As for wearing a compression garment, it plays a crucial role in the recovery process by providing support to your abdominal area, reducing swelling, and promoting proper healing. Your surgeon will likely recommend wearing the compression garment continuously for the first few weeks following surgery, gradually tapering off its use as your healing progresses.

In summary, while the exact timing for returning to work may vary, it's essential to listen to your body and follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions closely to ensure a smooth and successful recovery.

I hope this information helps, and I wish you a speedy recovery and excellent results with your tummy tuck procedure.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen
Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. I always recommend take 2 - 3 weeks out of work. I would suggest to be treated by board certificated plastic surgeon with experience in this procedure, to get the best desired results.
Kind Regards,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.-

Thank you for your question! For my patients, having a tummy tuck procedure, I recommend that they take 10 days off of work, three weeks off of cardio at the gym, and six weeks off of weight training and yoga exercises. For the garment, I recommend they wear it 24/7 for the first three weeks after surgery, then an additional three weeks at night only. I recommend consulting with a board-certified plastic surgeon and discussing his/her specific post op instructions. Best of luck!

Good question. The short answer is one week, if you have a sedentary job. If you work in a physically strenuous field where lifting is involved, or if you are exposed to unclean surfaces such as found in gymnasiums, day care, or long term care facilities, I would wait 3 weeks before returning to work. 
Matthew C Camp MD

While recommendations from different surgeons may vary, for patients with largely sedentary jobs, I recommend taking 7-10 days after surgery before returning to work.  At this point, narcotic pain medication is likely no longer necessary, drains have usually been removed, and it is safe to stand fully upright and walk comfortably.  Compression garments can aid in smoothing out swelling from areas treated by liposuction, often in conjunction with the tummy tuck itself.

Thank you for your question. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals. Depending on the extent of your abdominoplasty and your general physical condition, you may be able to return to non-strenuous work anywhere from one to three weeks after surgery. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, after a few weeks. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling during this time, but such feelings are normal. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago 

We usually tell our patients to plan for a two week recovery after Tummy Tuck. Tummy tuck recoveries varies: Full Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair will take longer than recovery for a Mini tummy tuck.  We almost always use a binder for the first week or two followed by a girdle for the next month.

Ultimately it depends on the type of work that you do, however I offer some general guidelines for my patients to follow.  Firstly I would plan at having at least 2 weeks off work as you should not even consider driving for the first 2 weeks.  To be safe, I would plan on returning to an office based/light work environment at 3 weeks and light hospitality work at 4 weeks if possible. Any form of employment that involves heavy lifting or straining must be avoided for 6 weeks. I recommend my patients to wear a compression garment continuously for 6 weeks.  After 6 weeks they can remove the garment and they are free to attempt normal activites.

Thank you for your question.  In general, most of my patients will return to work within 7-10 days of their tummy tuck procedure.  If patients are returning to a desk job or are able to work from home they can often resume limited work activities in the first week.  I do recommend that my patients plan on at least 7-10 days out of work but advise patients that recovery time is highly variable and depends largely on how a patients body responds to the shock of surgery.  I also recommend that patients wear a light weight compression garment for 4 weeks after their tummy tuck to help reduce some post-operative swelling and I have also found that patients are much more comfortable after surgery when this area is being compressed.  With all of that said, please refer to your board-certified operating surgeon's specific post-operative recommendations as they are most familiar with your specific case and the surgical technique to be employed.  I hope you find this helpful and best of luck!