How Long is the Recovery Period for Full Tummy Tuck?

Myfatbelly, I assume you have already discussed this and much more with your surgeon. He or she will be the best source of information. I typically tell my patients that they will be able to stop narcotics in about a week, stand straight 1-2 weeks, begin driving 2 weeks, begin exercises in 4 weeks, be back to most all activities 2 months, and 12-18 months for numbness to resolve and scars fade. Those general guidelines do not tell you exactly how you'll recover. You may notice, for... more

Myfatbelly, After seven weeks of healing you are pretty far along and it sounds like you are making progress. Standing full and upright is something we expect to see in most patients after the first week, and some actuallly return to work and gentle activities after two weeks though the pace of recovery can vary. You are on the slow side but don't worry. Full tummy tuck is not a single operation and the methods used in correction will depend on the degree of skin and muscle laxity. Of... more

Since all abdominoplasties are not alike, recovery times are different. The amount of dissection, the tightness of the closure, the need to tighten the muscles and to what degree may all influence post-op pain, sense of tightness, and recovery time. However, most patients should be able to resume most activities by 4-6 weeks and should be able to stand erect within a few days. Most tugging and tight feeling should be gone by the time you resume all activities within 4-6 weeks although an... more

I encourage patients to stand upright after 3 to 4  days. In my experience, anything beyond that can result  in one heck of a back ache. Sitting in a straight-backed chair is a good way to "relax " the incision.

Recovery period after a tummy tuck can be from two to 4 weeks. It is not unusual to still feel tug and tight around the incisions and flanks for a long time( months). This is due to scar and wound healing. When liposuction is perform with a tummy tuck  (as I usually do it for better contour) you may fill tightness around the areas of liposuction for months.

Every patient has a different recovery experience from a tummy tuck. Most patients can stand up straight after about a week or two. The pulling and tugging sensations may take a few months to disappear.

You should visit your doctor since you are having a prolonged recovery. Most people are doing well two to three weeks after surgery. If you are having continued pain or discomfort, you may have something going on which can be addressed. If your doctor examines you and everything seems to be fine, then you may just need to push yourself a little. Good luck with your recovery.

A successful abdominoplasty can tighten the abdomen sufficiently to make it difficult to fully extend your abdomen so that you can stand up straight. You should be getting better every week and I would expect that you will be able to stand fully uprigt without difficulty in the next few weeks. If not you should see your doctor and consider physical therapy to help you get full motion back.

In general it takes a few weeks for most patients to recover from a tummy tuck. Some will heal more quickly, some will take longer. The variable that affect recovery the most is the amount of muscle repair required. The more muscle tightening necessary, the long the expected recovery. Some activities are restricted short term, showering for example. Some activities are restricted for weeks, like heavy lifting. It is important to discuss these details with your plastic surgeon before... more

Tummy Tuck patients will require a recovery time of two weeks. After two weeks normal daily activities are allowed excluding heavy lifting. Walking is encouraged early on but physical activity and exercises involving the abdominal muscles should be avoided for 8 weeks.