Tummy Tuck/C Section Recovery Similar?

Thank you for your question.

During the Tummy Tuck no incision is made through the abdominal muscle as is done during a C-section. Thus for a Mini Tummy Tuck the recovery can be easier than with a C-section.

However when a Full Tummy Tuck with repair of the muscles is done the recovery can be about the same as with a C-section.

Thank you for the question. As you can imagine, every patient will have a different experience when it comes to discomfort (and overall healing process) after tummy tuck surgery. Generally, most patients will report that the recovery process is similar to recovering after C-section. Anecdotally, when I have asked patients to compare, all have reported that the tummy tuck recovery is less painful than C-section recovery. I hope this, and the attached link/video, helps.

I have found that a C-Section is a good "barometer" for what to expect with a tummy tuck in terms of recovery and discomfort.  Most patients find it somewhat less uncomfortable as far as pain than a C-Section.  In a C-Section the abdominal muscles are often divided and there is more pain related to that.  A tummy tuck raises the tissues off of the fascia or "covering" of the muscles and also "tightens" the covering of the muscles.