How Soon Post-Op TT Should One be Able to Drive or Walk up Stairs?

How soon can you drive a car, or walk up the stairs after a full tummy tuck ?

Tags:

driving walk

Comment on this

10 Doctor Answers | Asked by anon669152

Doctor Answers (10)
Community Comments (0)

How soon to drive or walk up stairs after Tummy Tuck

A very important question. Of course, your surgeon should give the final word and inform you of this prior your surgery, but I can let you know what I tell my patients. Assum normal healing, I suggest driving at 2 weeks. Walking up the stairs (a few stairs) with help only can be done upon arrival at home. More than one flight, you should wait at least 1 week. Hope this helps.

Walking and driving after a tummy tuck

Patients can walk up stairs usually the day of their tummy tuck procedure. Driving should be avoided until patients are off their pain medication (narcotics). Heavy lifting is to be avoided for about four to six weeks after surgery. Discuss more specific post operative instructions with your plastic surgeon as each surgeon has a slightly different protocol. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

Activity after a tummy tuck

Most people are out of work for an abdominoplasty for about two weeks. You can walk up stairs with assistance within a day and drive usually within one week to six days if you are not taking narcotics.

How Soon Post-Op TT Shld One be Able to Drive or Walk up Stairs?Answer:

My patients are out of bed and taking a few step the night of surgery and can go up stairs 3-4 days after, but very carefully….I find most activities are safe after a TT if done very controlled and slowly! As far as driving, for most patients, it’s about 2 weeks before they are feeling well enough to manage driving, AND as stated, are off the pain meds!!! DUI counts for narcotics too!!!

Driving? Stairs? When after a Tummy Tuck?

Thanks for the question. After an abdominoplasty, most plastic surgeons want their patients up and moving about as soon as possible. This helps with the recovery process and decreases the risks of complications such as blood clots in the legs or lungs. Most patients can walk stairs the day after their surgery. Of course, caution is required in when on the stairs and if uncertain, wait a few days but the key is get up and start walking. Driving is different since... more

Tummy tuck, climbing stairs, driving

A tummy tuck can be prettty painful if the muscles are tightened and how fast a patient becomes comfortable enough to perform diferent activities varies greatly. Also each doctor is different in the post operative restrictions. My patients are climbing stairs with someone next to them the day of surgery because we use pain pumps to control the discomfort. But driving requires normal reflexes so it is not a good idea until you are totally comfortable off medications. Two weeks is about normal. more

How Soon Post-Op TT Should One be Able to Drive or Walk up Stairs?

I ask my abdominoplasty patients to be as mobile as they can. This can reduce complications such as blood clots and is generally helpful both physically and psychologically. People differ tremendously in how quickly they recover from tummy tuck surgery, but most should be able to climb a short flight of stairs within a few days of surgery. Make sure you have help if you feel unsteady. Driving is a different matter. Of course you must be off narcotic pain medications, and generally... more

Activity after tummy tuck

Each surgeon has his or her own set of after-surgery instructions. A typical recovery for a typical standard tummy tuck that doesn't have any problems would be off pain medication, driving, and back to a desk job in about two weeks. Stairs, probably 1-2 weeks gently. It depends on how involved your tummy tuck is. Ask the board-certified plastic surgeon who evaluates you, what she/he thinks your recovery will be like. One person's tummy tuck can be much more... more

Tummy Tuck - How Soon Post-Op TT Should One be Able to Drive or Walk up Stairs?

It's hard to be specific on each of those and you obviously need to check all of this with your own plastic surgeon but as a rule I would say the following: 1) You should be able to walk up the stairs within a few days of your surgery, even though you will clearly not be at full strength. I normally recommend that the patient be up and walking within a few hours of the surgery; early mobilization has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of certain complications,... more

Tummy Tuck and Post op Recovery?

Thank you for the question. It would be best to address specific questions regarding your recovery with your operating surgeon since he/she knows you and the planned procedure ( and is responsible for all aspects of your care). my routine may not be applicable to you and could potentially be confusing. Some general words of advice may be helpful... 1. Make sure you are doing the procedure for the right reasons (for yourself) and that you have realistic expectations. ... more