A tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty, is a plastic surgery procedure that helps those with a “pooch” by removing excess skin and fat around the abdominal area and lifting the belly button while tightening the abdominal wall and restoring elasticity. It can be done on its own or as part of a mommy makeover. After a significant weight loss, I wanted to get rid of my hanging tummy, but I had some reservations about following through with a surgical procedure. Before I committed, I wanted to know how a tummy tuck works: what’s the recovery time, how long does the tightness last after, how do I maintain my body contouring results, and so much more.
Ultimately, my tummy tuck helped me feel more confident in my body, and I’m so happy I followed through with it—but there were a lot of things I learned along the way that I know will help others decide if it’s right for them.
Consider these tips to ensure a successful tummy tuck surgery and recovery.
1. It is going to take a long time to heal.
I went in thinking I was going to be up and running in two weeks. What the heck? I am a smart woman, but this was really stupid thinking. Please plan on taking a minimum of two weeks off work—three to four, if you can swing it.
“In general, I suggest patients book two to three weeks off work,” says Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Mathew A. Plant. “It will take one to two weeks for [a tummy tuck patient] to be walking fully upright again and about six weeks to get back to most activities.”
2. You’re going to swell.
They tell you that you’ll be swollen, and wow, that couldn’t be more of an understatement—at least in my experience. If you’re wondering how long swelling lasts after a tummy tuck, know that it’s different for everyone but can take weeks to months and be a lot to handle, so hang tough for the first few weeks. The pain after a tummy tuck isn’t much fun either.
“The tummy tuck swelling can be significant and will be visible for up to three months,” says Dr. Plant. “If liposuction was done, then hard spots of isolated swelling can be felt for even longer than that.”
According to Dr. David Shafer, a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York City, some people have hardly any tummy tuck swelling, while for others it may be more substantial. Wearing binders and compression garments around the midsection after surgery is what really helps the swelling after a tummy tuck and keeps sutures in place. “I also have patients use Reston foam under their garment, to help smooth the skin,” says Dr. Shafer.
3. Your clothes won’t fit for a while.
Don’t even think about jumping into that pair of skinny jeans anytime soon—it’s just not going to happen. I had visions of the tummy being removed, fat being sucked out of my hips, and running out to a party the next week. Dreamer.
4. Do not—and I repeat, do not—weigh or measure yourself for the first eight weeks.
Your body will be carrying excess fluid for at least the first month, so you’ll likely notice some weight gain. Before getting my tummy tuck surgery, I looked up “tummy tuck before and after” photos online, to see results from others. My tummy did not look like those “after” photos right after surgery, because of all the swelling and water weight—plus those pictures were all probably taken months after the initial surgery, so don’t expect those results you saw online to happen to your body right away.
“If you were to step on the scale the next day [after a tummy tuck], you’d weigh a fair bit more because of the swelling and the IV fluids,” explains Dr. Plant. “Water is much heavier than fat, so no matter how much excess fat was removed, patients will be retaining more water and will weigh more—the scale will start to get back to normal after a week or two.”
5. Eat a light diet the day before your cosmetic procedure.
Be smart about your diet—it’s not a good idea to eat heavy Mexican food, like I did, the day before going under general anesthesia. I got to the hospital and while waiting to be taken back, my IBS kicked in. Also, eating a healthy diet in the days leading up to your surgery can ensure that your body has the energy it needs to recover after sedation.
Dr. Plant seconds this, saying there are no limitations on your diet before or after your tummy tuck but that eating “cleaner” food will help your body recover better. “Eating pineapple can help minimize bruising because of the bromelain in it, and it is important to ensure you get enough protein to heal the large wound,” he says. “I typically suggest my patients supplement protein with a scoop of the protein powder of their choice daily.”
Dr. Shafer is also a fan of adding protein to your diet post-op and recommends his patients drink a protein shake (like Muscle Milk) every day for one week before surgery and two weeks after surgery. “During healing, the body is in a hypermetabolic state, and the boosted proteins and vitamins help substantially,” he says. “Also, staying well-hydrated is very important during the healing phases.”
6. The pain meds do a number on your system, and you’ll get backed up.
The pain after a tummy tuck is no joke, and your doctor will probably prescribe pain medication to help ease the discomfort during the initial recovery period. Post-op, constipation sets in fast. Make sure you take milk of magnesia or another laxative the day after surgery. I felt like I had an army of little men with swords in my belly. It was miserable!
“I suggest starting stool softeners, like Colace, a few days before surgery,” says Dr. Plant. “It is also important to eat lots of fiber and drink lots of water with it.” Additionally, Dr. Shafer notes that early ambulation/walking post-surgery, once the anesthetic wears off, is essential, to help get things moving.
7. Let people take care of you.
Don’t try to be a superwoman. Yes, ladies—we all know we can run the show and manage everything and everyone in our life, but the pain after this cosmetic surgery isn’t something to mess with or power through. You need to surrender to your caretakers and focus on healing. If your spouse is not doing things the way you normally would, try to let it go. You can straighten everything out later. Nobody will die if you are not running the ship for a while.
8. It’s going to hurt when you laugh, cry, sneeze, take a deep breath, move, and so on.
You might read that pre-op that you will have some discomfort after surgery. That’s a damn lie, because it hurts like hell after a tummy tuck. As long as you don’t laugh, cry, sneeze, take a deep breath, move, poop, try to pass gas, or make any other sudden movements, you will be fine. Basically, just lie in bed for about a week, and you will be A-OK.
Related: Doctors Answer 6 of the Most Common Questions About Tummy Tuck Recovery
9. Make sure you have all necessary supplies before surgery day.
You won’t be able to drive to get anything after, so make sure you stock up beforehand. “I always give my patients their prescription a week in advance so they can fill it and have it ready at home,” says Dr. Plant. “Other things I suggest doing before surgery are to set up a recovery area that is comfortable and close to a washroom so they don’t have to travel as far. I [also] suggest having a phone charger in that area so they don’t have to scramble to find one later.” Additionally, some tummy tuck patients have found it helpful to rent a walker for two weeks, to help their lower abdomen and back during the initial bent-over period of recovery.
Before your surgery, Dr. Shafer stresses the importance of staying well-hydrated; drinking protein shakes; and avoiding any herbal treatments or medications, since they can thin your blood and cause more bruising after surgery. “In the post-op period, I would suggest having healthy snack foods, protein shakes, and lots of drinks you like, to stay hydrated,” he says. “I caution people not to enter a starvation diet around the time of surgery, as it is important that the body has energy and nutrition to properly heal.”
10. Move your body more after two weeks.
When you begin to feel better, start with gentle walks. Don’t dive right back into strenuous activity as soon as you start to feel better! You’re still healing. “The first day after your surgery, you can walk to the bathroom, followed by the rest of the house the next day,” says Dr. Shafer. “By the end of the week, I want patients walking around the block, and I don’t want patients staying in bed all day. This is because it’s important to get your blood moving for healing and also to help prevent blood clots.” Slowly entering exercise is important, but don’t be too quick or push yourself too much, even if you feel okay the first couple of weeks.
Two weeks after surgery, Dr. Plant allows his patients to do lower body exercise and light cardio, if they are feeling up to it. “Lifting should be limited to 10 pounds for the first two weeks, and you should avoid heavy lifting—e.g., upper body exercise, lifting of grocery bags, children and pets—for at least four weeks,” he says. “Except for core exercises that work your abdominal muscles, you may resume all exercise activities after six weeks. You may resume core/abdominal exercises and high-intensity workout programs [such as CrossFit] after three months. If you did not have muscle tightening, then you may resume these activities at six weeks post-op.” To maintain tummy tuck results, it’s important to maintain a stable weight after surgery.
