What is a tummy tuck recovery like?

A tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is one of the more painful and longer recoveries when it comes to cosmetic surgery.  I generally tell patients to plan on being not themselves for about 6 weeks.  During that time frame they wear a compression garment over the abdomen, avoid lifting object over 10#s and plan to not be able to stand up straight for several weeks.  There are generally 2-4 drains which stay in for 1-3 weeks.  No aggressive physical activities can be performed for a least 4 weeks including weight training, running, sports, yoga etc.  All my patients are able to walk out of the surgery center and get up to go to the bathroom with minimal assistance.  They get a pain pump to help control the pain for the first several days.  In general they are on narcotic pain medications for 2-3 weeks.  Follow up is pretty much weekly for the first month.  While recovery is rough almost all patients are thrilled with the results as you can see from the reviews of the procedure and high approval rating.    

Hi, thank you for your question. 
An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck, procedure can take a great deal of physical and emotional stamina to go through. In recovering from the surgery, you should keep in mind that the final results will not be evident for many months and that you will need a support system to help you for the first few weeks. 
In the early part of recovery, you may feel exhausted and I recommend that you have someone with you at all times for the first week. During this time, you will be walking with a slightly forward flexed posture - this is to alleviate any tension on the incision and will improve gradually over 2 weeks. Walking is encouraged in the immediate post-op period to decrease the chances of developing blood clots.
Post-op pain should be expected for the first week, but can be minimized or even eliminated with the use of liposomal bupivacaine (or Exparel), which is injected into the area of sensory nerves going to the abdominal wall. If you prefer not to have this injection, the use of narcotic medication will help with the pain, but may cause constipation. 
You should expect to feel better and be able to return to normal activities within 2 weeks, but should refrain from gym/sports until 6 weeks after surgery. 
If your surgeon uses closed-suction drains, these will usually remain in place for 1 week and will be removed in the office without discomfort. 
I hope this helps! Good luck in achieving your aesthetic goal. 

A properly performed tummy tuck by a board certified plastic surgeon with many years of experience in cosmetic surgery and thousands of patients can result in a beautiful outcome with moderate discomfort. The procedure is done in an outpatient surgery center, and the patient can typically return to work at two weeks. We see patients in follow-up at 1 day, 5 days, 7 days, 9 days, 14 days, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months, and every year after that forever (all of this is free). Pain is moderate, though pain medicine is provided. It takes about two months before one can resume exercise.  Overall, it is a safe operation with high patient satisfaction rates.

A 'tummy tuck'/abdominoplasty includes excision of all the skin and fat from the umbilicus to the pubic area. The umbilicus is preserved on its blood supply...dissection then goes up to the rib cage. The rectus muscle/fascia is then tightened from breast bone to pubis. The patient is in a flexed position and the incision ends up in your bikini line.
Postop, an abdominal binder is paced to give support and to decrease swelling. This is usually worn at least 2-3 weeks...can be substituted for a spanx-like garment. You are up the first day and slowly increase you ambulation. I use 2 drains to reduce fluid buildup and can be removed 3-7 days later.
Follow up is important...I see patients at least 3x the first week, then 1-2x second week to make sure everything is going according to plan. Pain can be mild-moderate and controlled with pain meds, then Tylenol.
Full recovery may take 4-6 weeks, but you can be up and about day#1 and increase activity from there.
Good luck!  

Hi there,
You should take things easy for the first 2 weeks after surgery. Depending on your surgeon's technique & preference, drainage tubes are usually placed just below the incision. These tubes allow fluids to leak out as you heal. You will probably remain in the hospital for a minimum of 48 hours. The sutures are bandaged with a special tape, and they’re removed approximately a week after the surgery.
Pain, swelling and bruising are common and the symptoms might last for a few weeks. Most patients return to normal after 6 weeks. If you’re undergoing the procedure, you will have to refrain from lifting heavy items and performing strenuous activities for the first few weeks.
Depends on how you define "complete recovery", ranging from getting back to your normal livelihood vs fully unrestrained exercise regime, sometimes it could take up to 3 to 6 months for you to feel "completely" recovered! As different patients' recovery can vary widely even with same surgical procedure, it'll be best to seek a more detailed opinion from your plastic surgeon for further advise.
Hope that helps.
Best wishes
Ellis Choy

Everyone heals a little bit differently, and there are some variables with a tummy tuck such as whether or not liposuction is performed. A typical patient will be on oral pain medication for a week. Some patients take 2 weeks to completely wean off the pain medication. Drains will be in place for one to two weeks as well. A binder will be necessary for 2 to 3 weeks, followed by a Spanx type compression garment. After six weeks, most people can begin exercising without any restrictions. Best of luck!

That is a great question. A tummy tuck not only requires the excision and suturing of extra skin, but also the internal suturing of the abdominal muscles which will lengthen the recovery period. It is imperative to allow six weeks for the abdominal wall and skin to close over and fully heal before returning back to regular movement. Patients may experience temporary pain, soreness, numbness and swelling for several months which will eventually subside. Hope this has helped.

Most patients feel tired and sore after surgery there will be some degree of bruising and swelling. Small plastic drains are in place and are removed in several days. A post-surgical garment is worn for several weeks. Most patients return to work within 10-14 days. More strenuous activities can be resumed in 6-8 weeks.

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 medications by 5-7 days. Surgical drains need to be removed and this is usually between days 5 and 10. I will begin non core exercise after 2 weeks and wait 4-6 weeks before beginning core training.
Most people return to work by 10 days and full daily activity by 2-3 weeks.
good luck

One of the most exciting things about the the many surgical advances over the last 10 – 20 years is how the recovery from a tummy tuck has improved!Traditionally, it was a difficult and long recovery. Now with such techniques as the drainless tummy tuck and use of long-acting pain medications, the recovery is much, much quicker and more comfortable. My patients typically have a recovery that allows them to get back to work in as little as  1 to 2 weeks after their operation. With the use of the drainless tummy tuck, their pain is less, they are able to stand fully upright almost immediately after the operation and the results are simply much, much better. We use a medication called Exparel that gives about three days of pain relief immediately after the operation. Traditionally, that was the toughest time, but now it is a non-issue!Certainly, the most important factor to consider in choosing a surgeon for your tummy tuck is that they are certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and have significant experience with this procedure.I wish you the best,Dr. Gabbay.

Thanks for the question. Generally, abdominoplasty involves a recovery period of longer than most plastic surgical procedures. It generally takes 3 weeks to get over the first phase of recovery. However, downtime for abdominoplasty can vary from patient to patient, depends on the size of the operated area of your body.The exact downtime will be determined by your surgeon according to your surgery results. I wish you all the best.