Tummy Tuck Q&A
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Yoga Restrictions After Tummy Tuck?
asked 1 year ago by applebee
Latest answer by Charles K. Lee, MD
Question viewed 945 times
Tags: exercise, yoga
Will There Be Any Yoga Pose Restrictions (Beyond the 4-6 Wk Recovery) After a Full Tummy Tuck?
16 answers to Yoga Restrictions After Tummy Tuck?
+3
Getting close to full healing, but check with your surgeon first
All tissues require at least 6 weeks of healing time to reach maximal strength so that you can practice your yoga or other strenuous activities. This goes for skin, tendon, muscle, bone, etc. Sometimes, individual healing rates can vary depending on your overall health status. By 4-6 weeks, you are definitely getting close, but check with your surgeon to make sure that your abdomen and fascia have healed to the extent necessary for the additional...
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Charles K. Lee, MD
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
San Francisco Plastic Surgeon
+3
Yoga restrictions after tummy tuck
Many yoga poses are quite a strenuous abdominal workout. I ask my patients to refrain from yoga, abdominal crunches and sports that involve a lot of twisting motions (golf, tennis, etc.) for 12 weeks post-op. This allows time for the muscle repair to heal solidly.
All the best,
+2
Yoga after a tummy tuck
Normally I explain to every patient that a tummy tuck will require 6 weeks of no strenuous exercise because it will potentially cause problems with swelling. You want the area to be well healed prior to increasing your heart rate such that it can make additional swelling. This applies to yoga as well. The gradual return to normal activities is fine as long as you wait this amount of time. Otherwise you could see more swelling than is expected in teh recovery phase...
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+2
No yoga pose restrictions after proper healing time.
Yoga does extensive strengthening and stretching of the abdominal area. A tummy tuck has separated the skin and fat of the abdomen from the underlying muscles, repaired the muscles and then replacing the skin flap back down after trimming off the excess. This skin flap must reattach to the muscles. Too much activity too soon can prevent this healing and lead to problems. 4 - 6 weeks would be the bare minimum to wait before resuming yoga but a safer time...
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+2
Yoga Pose Restrictions After a Full Tummy Tuck
After having a full abdominoplasty, you will need to recover for approx 6 wks before returning to you normal exercise routine. Check with your Plastic Surgeon to verify this, but there should be absolutely no reason that you could not do all postures that you were doing prior to the surgery. Tummy tuck surgery will remove any excess skin, and often times bring the rectus muscles closer together when there has been a dehissance, or streching apart of the muscles from...
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+2
Yoga after tummy tuck may be easier and more effective
We actually did a tummy tuck on a yoga instructor last year. As you probably know, tummy tucks do what exercise alone can't: remove excess skin and localized fat (if any), and repair separated muscles (called a diastasis.) Many patients report that after the tummy tuck it is easier to improve their core strength and so they get a bigger benefit from exercise - including yoga. You will of course need to be completely healed, minimum 6 weeks before anything too strenuous.
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+2
Yoga Restrictions After Tummy Tuck?
Regarding: "Yoga Restrictions After Tummy Tuck?
Will There Be Any Yoga Pose Restrictions (Beyond the 4-6 Wk Recovery) After a Full Tummy Tuck? "
Unlike turkeys, last time I checked, none of my patients had a plastic pop-out indicator sticking out of their backs which signaled they were "done" and ready for serious physical activity. This is where our experience as surgeons crosses merges and depends on our patients' native intelligence.
While there MAY be...
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+2
Abdominal restrictions after a tummy tuck
After 8 weeks of healing I let my patients begin ab exercises because they are fully healed. Start slowly and progress back to yoga. Ask your doctor but 4-6 weeks is too soon IMO.
+1
Yoga After Tummy Tuck
I recommend no heavy lifting or strenuous activity (no exercise incuding yoga) for at least 5 to 6 weeks after tummy tuck. After six weeks, I encourage patients to slowly resume exercise routines *gradually*. Remember, during the six week postoperative period - you will be deconditioned. I do prepare patients to notice some increased swelling once exercise is resumed. Over the next several weeks, this post-exercise edema will no longer manifest. So you should be able to resume yoga...
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+1
Yoga and tummy tucks
I usualy allow patients to go back to full acitivty within about 6 weeks provided that they healed wihout problems. Check with your doctor first.
+1
Yoga practice after a tummy tuck.
Postoperatively, you must refrain from strenuous activity for at least to six weeks. Your PS will advise you when you can start practicing Yoga again.
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Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Yoga after tummy tuck
That portion of the abdominoplasty that takes the longest to heal is the muscle repair.
I ask my patients to wait 8 weeks before beginning any kind of workout - I really don't think the muscle repair has the needed tensile strength much before that.
Even at 8 weeks, however, you will have some fatigue and tightness, and you should expect to work gradually back into your routines.
+1
Yoga after tummy tuck
It is unlikely that ultimately you would have any limitation of poses you could do after a tummy tuck but it may take time. 6 weeks probably is the earliest you should give it a try. Ultimately let pain be your guide and slowly work your way up. I generally advise my patients to avoid group strenuous excercises until you are fairly sure you are ready to go. The "peer pressue" of the group may force you into things you may not be ready to do.
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Terrence Murphy, MD
Englewood Plastic Surgeon
Englewood Plastic Surgeon
+1
Yoga Restrictions After Tummy Tuck?
If my patient there are no restrictions but check with the operative surgeon you chose. From MIAMI Dr. Darryl j. Blinski
+1
Yoga after tummy tuck
Since most healing is complete by 6 weeks, you should be able to return to yoga after that time (if OK with your surgeon). Most of my patients start off slow and get back into their normal routine within 1-2 months.
Karol A. Gutowski, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1
Yoga Restrictions after tummy tuck?
I would tend to agree with Dr. Rand that 4-6 weeks is too early to return to yoga after a tummy tuck. Yoga is very comprehensive (which is good) and works your core muscles extensively. That being said, those are the muscles that also need to heal together following the imbrication that is performed with a tummy tuck.
That being said, I would also say that 6-8 weeks is a little more realistic.
I hope that helps!
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Gregory A. Buford, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon
Denver Plastic Surgeon


