Tummy tuck recovery

After a full tummy tuck, expect some discomfort that should be controlled by oral pain medicine.  Expect to walk bent over for 1-2 weeks because of the skin that is removed to make a flat contour to your abdomen.  Visit after are usually at 1, 2, and 6 weeks after followed by 3, 6, and 12 months... more

Most patients will take off 1-2 weeks from work to recover from a tummy tuck. Usually after one week, most patients are no longer requiring narcotics and can usually control the pain with Tylenol. Patients are instructed to avoid heavy lifting for four to six weeks.  It may take several months before... more

For full tummy tucks, patients in our practice receive an On-Q pain pump which delivers local anesthetic into the surgical area.  All patients spend a night (and sometimes more) at a licensed Aftercare facility.  These two factors have made recovery from a tummy tuck much more... more

There are variations on the tummy tuck operation which will have variable recovery rates. the main factor is whether the muscle has been tightened. It is the muscle manipulation which slows the recovery. I tell my patients surgery on skin is less painful than muscle.As a general rule, patients are off the pain... more

As the previous posts point out, recovery for tummy tuck varies depending on the patient and the extent of surgery. Pain can be minimized by the use of a "pain  pump" such as the On-Q system which slowy infuses numbing medication (lidocaine, non-narcotic) through a tiny catheter into the... more

 As Dr. Placik stated the recovery will vary depending on the extend of the surgery and also you pre-op shape.  Most of my patients go back to work 10 days after surgery.

There are some excellent guides here on realself.com such as the link posted below the answer. Tummy tucks can vary tremendously in their extent ranging from 1 hour to 5 hour procedures and from mini to full. Accordingly the recoveries will vary as well. We typically see patients at 3-5days, 10 days, 3 weeks,... more