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Tummy Tuck with Shortest Recovery Time?

asked 1 year ago by Megan4014
Latest answer by Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Question viewed 2,007 times
Tags: female, diastasis recti, downtime, endoscopic, recovery

I have a 3-4" diastasis recti from a very large pregnancy. I'm petite with good skin tone and am looking to have the tummy tuck for muscle repair only, no skin/fat removal (I'm okay with a little "leftover" skin). I'm not concerned about scarring but am very concerned about recovery time because I care for two young children. Would an endoscopic tummy tuck lessen recovery time compared to a full tummy tuck? If not, are there any other good options? Thank you!

21 answers to Tummy Tuck with Shortest Recovery Time?

Endoscopic Repair of a Wide Tummy Muscle Separation WITHOUT a Tummy Tuck

Regarding: "Tummy Tuck with Shortest Recovery Time? I have a 3-4" diastasis recti from a very large pregnancy. I'm petite with good skin tone and am looking to have the tummy tuck for muscle repair only, no skin/fat removal (I'm okay with a little "leftover" skin). I'm not concerned about scarring but am very concerned about recovery time because I care for two young children. Would an endoscopic tummy tuck lessen recovery time compared to a full tummy tuck?... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

How to reduce your recovery time after a tummy tuck

In our practice, we perform this procedure in patients of all shapes, sizes, and walks of life. Our patients are interested in receiving a dramatic and beautiful result with a very short downtime. We inform our patients that after the surgery there is a significant recovery process. We ask all our patients to take at least two weeks off after the surgery before returning to work with minimal physical requirements such as a desk job. We recommend that the patient weight for six weeks... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Tummy Tuck Recovery Time

Thanks for the question. In general, the muscle repair is responsible for a large propensity of the pain in a tummy tuck. Thus, whether you choose to have a traditional tummy tuck or an endoscopic diastasis repair, your pain will be comparable. I would therefore recommend a traditional tummy tuck to guarantee the best results. In my practice I place patients on a lifting restriction of no more than 10 lbs for a period of 8 weeks. This ensures the patient will have ample time to... more

Glenn Vallecillos, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Tips for faster recovery with tummy tuck

From your description it sounds like a mini-tummy tuck with diastasis repair will be the way to go. That's the good news; the not as good news is that the biggest factor in recovery is the diastasis repair, not the skin or fat removal. It is analagous to a hernia repair, which we know from extensive experience takes about 6 weeks before it has healed enough to be stressed. You should be able to do most routine activities after 2 weeks but no heavy lifting for 6 weeks or you will set... more

Richard Baxter, MD
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck recovery

You have to figure 2-4 weeks for recovery. There are no shortcuts. Don't forsake the best result for a slightly shorter recovery

David A. Lickstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Endo tummy tuck

An endoscopic repair of the diastasis recti muscles is reserved for a very small number of patients. Most patients also require skin removal as well.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck Recovery

Megan I would recommend a standard abdominoplasty with repair of the rectus muscle. The endoscopic approach really does not decrease the recovery much. So go with the "gold standard" open approach and consider a Pain Pump which helps reduce the pain during the initial recovery period. I also recommend a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for the best results.

Daniel Reichner, MD
Newport Beach Plastic Surgeon

Tummy Tuck with Shortest Recovery Time?

With that large of a diastasis of 3 to 4 inches the average recovery whether using excisional tummy tuck or endoscopic will be 3 weeks. It is the healing time of the muscle repair that will take that time. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl J. Blinski

Darryl J. Blinski, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

Recovery Time for Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair

The muscle repair is the part of the tummy tuck that requires the longest recovery time. The technique used to perform it (endoscopic or open) won't significantly change that. For success, plan your tummy tuck when you can recover properly. With young children, you will need assistance for about 1 week post-op, but discuss this in detail with your surgeon.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

Recovery Time after Tummy Tuck

We tell our Jacksonville tummy tuck patients that the recovery can vary among patients from 2-4 weeks. The majority of the pain associated with the tummy tuck involves the repair of the muscle and diastasis recti. The length of the incision adds very little to the overall recovery, but it does increase the scar slightly. With that being said many surgeons advertise laser assisted or endoscopic procedures to help them market themselves. An endoscopic repair the of the diastasis recuts has... more

Ankit Desai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Recovery time

A full tiny tuck is what you need. I use pain pumps which minimize the pain from the muscle repair. Don't sell yourself short. An endoscopic won't give you the result you want if you have had kids.

William B. Rosenblatt, MD
New York Plastic Surgeon

If you are tightening your muscles of your abdomen, why not also tighten the skin?

I have to agree with Dr Rand. It is the muscle repair that causes the majority of the pain with a tummy tuck, not the skin removal. I find Endoscopic diastasis repair to not be as reliable or as aesthetically rewarding as the standard tummy tuck scar approach. It is also somewhat limited as far as how much tightening you can obtain due to the loose skin. Surgically tightening your separated abdominal muscles without tightening or removing the loose skin is like having a dent in your... more

Daniel P. Markmann, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

DiscoverTheBeauty.com

Tummy Tuck and muscle repair

I concur with my colleagues. If you are going to have repair of your muscles (correction of rectus diastasis), you might as well have the excess skin removed. An endoscopic approach to repair muscles is an option, however, if you have excess skin, you will not be happy with the residual excess skin even after muscle repair. In terms of recovery, having the excess skin removed should not change your recovery. You need to speak to your plastic surgeon for your... more

C. Bob Basu, MD
Houston Plastic Surgeon

www.basuplasticsurgery.com

Second today to miss the tummy tuck point

You are the second person on RS today who has misunderstood the analysis of tummy tuck options. The skin removal is not what causes the recovery in the TT, it just causes the scar. The recovery is totally from the muscle repair and it is longer the more laxity you have (like you describe about yourself). An endoscopic repair has NO ROLE for you as it will just wind up with a huge mound of skin in the central abdomen when the skin is dragged there by the muscle repair.... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Recovery Time for Tummy Tuck Varies

I do not think you will be happy following an endoscopic approach to repair a 3-4 inch diastasis recti condition but rather will need a more traditional tummy tuck. However, some tummy tucks are easier for the surgeon and patient's recovery alike.. You are right, the more you are in ideal shape and appropriate weight on average the better the result and faster the healing period and less involved the surgery. To make the initial few days easier, I would consider using Exparel, a... more

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS
Orange County Plastic Surgeon

Recovery from an endoscopic tummy tuck

The recovery from an endoscopic rectus repair is faster than lifting the whole abdominal skin up, putting it under stretch and closing the incision, but consider this. You have to do a lot of undermining or freeing of the abdominal skin so it doesn't bunch up when you bring the rectus in from the side to the midline. That space then has to be either drained, or closed off with Quill sutures. I find my full tummy tucks are up and around in 5-7 days, and driving and going... more

Robert M. Lowen, MD
Bay Area Plastic Surgeon

www.enhanced-you.com

Endoscopic tummy tuck (abdominoplasty)

The endoscopic tummy tuck is a reasonable approach for an individual with minimal to no skin laxity and a pure rectus muscle diastasis. It is rarely indicated after pregnancy and more commonly used for congenital rectus muscle diastasis repairs. SEE the Video in the attached link and review the "micro" tummy tuck.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Recovery after rectus diastasis repair

The recovery will depend more on the rectus diastasis repair and less on the method of repair. More likely, the traditional (non-endoscopic) approach will give a better result as it allows for removal of loose skin.

Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Any muscle repair requires recovery time

Endoscopic repair is rare but good for minimal skin excess. Then the incision can be shorter but the recovery time is no shorter. Anytime the muscle is repaired it is best to wait 4-6 weeks before any serious exercise or the repair may be compromised. Typically 1-2 weeks initial downtime with any tummy tuck.

David J. Levens, MD
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

www.drlevens.com

Tummy Tuck Recovery Time

The main recovery time required after a tummy tuck procedure is because of the muscle fascia tightening. The skin portion of the procedure is almost painless, due to the nerves being temporarily cut; however, the most dscomfort comes from the tight muscles. Not including the skin or fat removal part of the procedure will not add too much to the recovery period. You need to have an incision to repair the diastasis recti. Instead of a lower horizontal... more

Adil Ceydeli, MD
Panama City Plastic Surgeon

Mini tummy tuck with disastasis repair would be best option.

The diastasis repair is the major factor in your recovery time. Whether it's repaired open or endoscopically won't matter in the recovery. This is like having a hernia repair and usually means no straining, or heavy lifting for about 4 weeks so the repair can heal properly. Having a small amount of skin excised in addition would not prolong this recovery and would give you the full benefit of the tummy tuck whether its a mini or a regular one. Check with... more