Recovery Time for Tummy Tuck + Hernia + Breast Aug?

Hi and thank you for your question regarding recovery time for a tummy tuck + hernia + breast augmentation. It is important to prioritize your recovery after a major surgery like a tummy tuck with hernia repair and breast augmentation with lift. As a general guideline, it is recommended to avoid lifting anything over 10-15 pounds for at least 3-4 weeks after surgery, and to limit activity for up to 6-8 weeks to ensure proper healing. Lifting anything heavy before your body is fully healed could cause damage to your incisions or even compromise your results. It's important to have a support system in place to help with daily tasks and caring for your children during your recovery period. Please discuss your specific case with your surgeon to get personalized advice and guidance on your recovery timeline. Thank you for your question and best of luck with your surgery and recovery. Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.

The Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BreastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, or #breastreduction.    Healing after a  #tummytuck will require time. Some patients are out of bed and walking the night of surgery and every hour while awake. I allow my patients to return to work at one to two weeks with 14 days preferred.  However, no lifting or straining.  At three weeks, increased level of activity and full with no restrictions, at 6 weeks. #Healing will continue for 2-3 months following your #Augmentation #Mastopexy procedure. There may be some swelling, bruising, malposition, color differences. Sensation will be abnormal. Scars will also be changing. But, it can be up to one year see your final result. Your doctor may require you to move or massage the implants within the breast pockets during the #postoperative period. #Textured implants do not require breast massage. You will be informed about this at your post-operative visit. Also, the two breasts commonly heal quite differently so #asymmetry is not unusual. One breast may swell more, feel more uncomfortable, or have a different initial shape. After complete #healing, they will be more similar and natural. You must have patience, but if this causes concern, ask questions of the doctor or the nursing staff.As I advise my patients, if your work keeps you sedentary, you may return whenever you feel up to it. If your work is strenuous, wait until your work activity does not cause any superficial pain. Some employers will modify a person’s job duties so they can back sooner, but without physical activity. Our office can provide our patients with a note stating they are not to engage in strenuous activity for a specified period of time. The note will not disclose what procedure they have underwent. Therefore, you may have to request a similar note from your surgeon if you are not independently employed. I recommend avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous #activity for six weeks following your surgery. With that said, it may help you plan your return to work accordingly.As for heavy lifting and other #strenuous #activities, it should be avoided for until you have clearance from your surgeon. You may, however, do normal activities at any time if they cause no pain or #discomfort. Let your body tell you what you can or cannot do. Aerobic exercise will raise your blood pressure, which could cause late bleeding and harm your result. Once you begin exercising again, start gently and let your body tell you what it can tolerate. Don’t rush!!  If you have concerns about your healing, or pain that you question to be unusual, it is important to call your plastic surgeon to discuss these further asked to be examined.

A hernia can easily recur if you don't take care of the area.  You should also wear a tight binder to give added support to the surgical area for the full 6 weeks.  I usually tell my patients that after 3 weeks you can easily sit on the floor and have your baby come to you so you don't have to worry about lifting.

Recovery times following mommy makeover surgery vary from patient to patient. It’s important to remember that this is an extensive procedure, that combines cosmetic breast surgery, abdominoplasty and in some cases, liposuction. It may also have additional components such as hernia repair surgery. Because of this, returning to strenuous activity to soon after surgery can potentially have negative consequences.

We generally recommend light activity for the first two weeks following the procedure. Patients are allowed bathroom and kitchen privileges, but encouraged to minimize activity. Light ambulation in a slightly flexed position is encouraged to avoid the formation of lower extremity blood clots. After two weeks, patients are allowed to gradually resume normal non strenuous activities. Strenuous activities such as lifting a twenty pound baby are not allowed for at least four to six weeks. At six weeks, most patients are able to resume all of their normal activities.It’s important to remember that every patient is unique. The specifics of their day to day lives and their procedure will have a significant impact upon their recovery. In some cases, return to normality will occur quickly, while in others who have more demanding lifestyles, it may take longer. In your current situation, having child care assistance will be critical to your recovery.Make sure you discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon may have important insights which will ultimately help your recovery.

The safest answer would be to wait 5 weeks before resuming normal activities including lifting your 20 pound son. This time period is selected because at 6 weeks there is about 90% wound healing has occurred (wound healing tensile strength).