{"id":16109,"date":"2020-07-28T07:57:16","date_gmt":"2020-07-28T14:57:16","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=16109"},"modified":"2023-10-12T13:43:15","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T20:43:15","slug":"tummy-tuck-recovery-questions-answered","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/tummy-tuck-recovery-questions-answered","title":{"rendered":"Doctors Answer 6 of the Most Common Questions About Tummy Tuck Recovery"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article has been medically reviewed for accuracy by Rockville, MD plastic surgeon Dr. Adam Tattelbaum<\/a> on August 19, 2020.<\/em><\/p>

In the world of cosmetic surgical procedures, the tummy tuck<\/a> reigns supreme. According to the Plastic Surgery Statistics Report<\/a>, it was the ninth most popular body procedure in 2020. But make no mistake—this is not a minor surgery. The recovery is extensive, and it’s imperative to listen to both your doctor’s orders and your body. “People are obsessed with recovering in 10 days, but if you want to have good results from your tummy tuck, you have to invest the right amount of time in healing,” cautions Dr. Siamak Agha<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Newport Beach, California. Ahead, answers to six of the most common questions about the tummy tuck recovery process.<\/p>

Interested in tummy tuck?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

What is the recovery time for a tummy tuck?<\/strong><\/h2>

As the saying goes, patience is a virtue. A tummy tuck involves tightening loose skin<\/a>, removing excess fat, and bringing together abdominal muscles that have separated, explains Dr. Kelly Killeen<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. The healing has to occur on all three layers—the skin, the underlying abdominal wall, and the muscle, she adds, no easy feat. TL;DR: full tummy tuck recovery time can be up to six months, according to both of the doctors we spoke with. <\/p>

But get through the first week, and it should all be downhill from there—this is when you’ll be in the most pain and have the most restrictions, says Dr. Killeen. You should be fairly mobile; in fact, it’s important to get up and walk every three hours, to minimize the risk of blood clots, notes Dr. Agha. Just don’t be surprised or worried if you can’t stand up completely straight. “It might even be two to three weeks before you can stand fully upright. Don’t push it, because the last thing you want is to stretch out or put tension on any of the incisions,” Dr. Agha cautions. Similarly,  many people find it more comfortable to sit and sleep with their knees up, particularly for the first week or so, adds Dr. Killeen. <\/p>

By the two-week mark<\/a>, “Most people will start to feel pretty human again and are able to start driving and go back to work at a desk job,” explains Dr. Killeen. Pending any complications and assuming that the healing process is going well, she usually clears most of her patients to resume all normal activities after four weeks. Dr. Agha tells his patients to wait six to eight weeks, though both doctors agree that once you are back up and running (literally or figuratively), it’s important to listen to your body and not do too much, too fast. “There’s a lot of muscle repair happening during the healing process, and it’s all very precarious. Too much activity or lifting can undo any progress,” says Dr. Killeen.<\/p>

Will I have a drain?<\/strong><\/h2>

Most likely, yes. Most tummy tucks involve the insertion of one or two surgical drains, to help remove excess fluid secreted by the body, and they’re usually removed within two weeks, says Dr. Agha. (Drainless tummy tucks<\/a> are also a thing, though they come with an increased potential for some complications.) Follow your doctor’s instructions for monitoring the drain and insertion point. Dr. Agha also adds that it’s best not to shower while the drains are still in, to minimize the risk of contracting an infection from tap water. <\/p>

Related: What Exactly to Look for in Tummy Tuck Before-and-Afters: Plastic Surgeons Say the Best Outcomes Have 3 Things in Common<\/a><\/em><\/p>

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