Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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How Much Walking 1-7 Days After TT, Breast Aug, Lipo?

I am 2 days post-op and have been trying to walk as much as I can. My mom motors me in circles around the upstairs after I've used the restroom (2-4X/day). I've noticed many PS saying get up 1x/hr or even go outside! I get fatigued just making it to the bathroom and find it hard to believe people are going up and down stairs at this point. I sleep upright bc it feels better, clearing out phlegm, & if I am reclined I flex my ankles & knees frequently while taking in deep breaths. Am I doing ok?

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by Trifecta

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Questions to Ask YOUR Plastic Surgeon: Activity after tummy tuck and breast augmentation

Activity level after any surgery is important to discuss with your surgeon, and after plastic surgery it is of the utmost importance to decrease the risk of blood clots froming in your legs with early ambulation and decrease the amount of sewlling with rest. This should be included in your preoperative planning package that a board certified plastic surgeon should have supplied or office would have included. Please discuss what their preferences are, but erly ambualtion in general does... more

Walking post tummy tuck

The most important thing is walking or keeping your legs elevated.You do not want to get blood clots and early ambulation is important.I tell my patients NO prolonged sitting in a chair.

Physical activity after surgery

Your body is your best thermometer. Don't push yourself more than you can handle. I agree it is best to walk a little bit and sit most of the time, than to lie in bed all day. However, over doing it may also increase your chance of bleeding and wound break down.

Surgical recovery is patient dependent

Recovery from any surgical procedure depends on the individual patient, the procedure performed and the instructions of each particular surgeon. Following an abdominoplasty, I always advise my patients to start getting out of bed and walking around on the night of surgery. The reason for this is twofold: it reduces the risk of pulmonary (lungs) complications and it also reduces the risk of deep venous thrombosis. That being said, it is also important that you do not overdo it too soon after... more

Tummy tuck recovery

It sounds like you are moving around plenty. I recommend that my patients get up a walk several times daily, but I don't expect them to be walking outside or for any great length. You seem conscientious and aware of what you need to do after surgery, but do call your surgeon's office for any other clarification.

Carmen Kavali, MD

11 reviews

Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Everyone recovers differently from surgery.

From what you describe, you are recovering appropriately. A tummy tuck, breast augmentation, and liposuction is a lot of surgery and a lot of anesthesia. The important components of the first week are to continue ambulating to improve swelling reduction, prevent blood clots, and increase your stamina. It is important to stay well hydrated and eat multiple small meals throughout the day. I recommend a multivitamin and healthy intake of protein to assist with healing. The use of an incentive... more

David Bogue, MD

6 reviews

Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

www.drbogue.com

2 days post op

If you are two days post-op, you really should be communicating with your PS office explaining your situation and asking specifically how much under your circumstance, you should be doing.

Walking is important after tummy tuck

It is important to be up and on your feet immediately after tummy tuck. Very short walks are fine, it is not exercise you are after, just activity to promote deep breathing and circulation in your legs. Up in and around the house the first week is just fine until your strength returns. Frequency, not distance. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Yes, you are doing okay.

Post operative care and guideline vary slightly among plastic surgeons. However, in general, we want our patients to be active so that patients do not develop post-operative complications such as DVT (deep venous thrombosis), PE (pulmonary embolism), and pulmonary infection. You want to ambulate so that your blood does not stay in stasis. At the same time, you do not want to fatigue yourself out - i.e. you should get some rest as tummy tuck, liposuction, and breast... more

Pulmonary embolism is the most serious complicattion od Abdominoplasty

Getting back to a normal activity level as quickly as possible after abdominoplasty is very important. As a precaution I often begin medication to decrease the likehood of pulmonary embolism post operatively. Early ambulation may allow me to discontinue this sooner. This same medication can increase the chance of bleeding complications so caution is indicated. In general I provide adequate analgesia including Motrin like drugs for the pain. Pain pumps with local anesthetics... more

Post Op Activity

Activity instructions / recommendations after surgery are individualized by your plastic surgeon. Hopefully, they gave you post-op instructions. In general, I suggested that my patients get up as much as possible without overdoing it. So, don't push your body too much, but just as much as is comfortable. Especially just a few days after surgery, you are not going to be as mobile as you will even a week from now. Good Luck.

How Much Walking 1-7 Days After TT, Breast Aug, Lipo?

I ALWAYS advise you follow the chosen surgeons' instructions. If you are not clear on them, CALL him or his staff. This than allows you to be in compliance with the post op protocols of your chosen surgeon. From MIAMI

Postoperative physical activity

In general, I would not recommend any strenuous physical activity at least 2 to 3 weeks after these procedures. It is usually recommended, however,to walk and continue light activities to maintain good circulation in the calves and avoid a blood clot or deep venous thrombosis. Certainly, it would not be a good idea to lie in bed all day. It is probably not a good idea to be going up and down stairs more then several times at day at 2 days postop.

Tummy Tuck postoperative walking

I think you are doing lots of walking, which is something I recommend to my patients after a tummy tuck. It is important to lower the risk of blood clots in the legs by walking after surgery, and I usually recommend similar measures for my patients.