How long is the 'downtime' after a mommy makeover? What about total recovery time?

A MM typically includes a TT, breast augmentation or breast lift, and liposuction.  It's unlikely that any two MM patients will recover at the same pace.  Much depends upon the health of the patient prior to surgery, and the level of physical activity and lifting following surgery.  Depending upon your recovery from the procedures, your plastic surgeon may shorten or lengthen this period.  I caution my patients that their abdominal muscles need time to repair, so I advise them to avoid strenuous exercise for a period of six weeks.  Our office recommends that someone stay with you for the first 24-48 hours after surgery.  Following 10-12 days of recuperation, you should be able to return to a sedentary job. Total recovery may take six months.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thanks for the question. It takes 3-4 weeks for your body to recover and return to daily life without any problems. I wish you all the best.

While specific downtime after a mommy makeover depends on the details of your surgery, most of my patients are able to drive by 7-10 days. Most take between 10 and 14 days off from work. During this time, expect to remain fairly sedentary at home, with occasional short walks around the house. If you work a desk job, you should be able to comfortably return to work by the 10-day mark. But if your job is more physically demanding, you may need to take additional time off or work a modified schedule. Complete recovery can require up to 8 weeks, but residual swelling may last for months. 

Thank you for your question. The down time is normally for two weeks after surgery. After a mommy makeover patients can return to light activities almost immediately after surgery, normal activities 2 weeks after surgery, and vigorous exercise 4 weeks after surgery.  We usually experience a slow steady improvement for 3 months or so after surgery. You definitely have to choose your surgeon correctly and make sure that he/she has the training and experience to meet your goals with absolute safety.  Don’t settle for less than a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon with specialized expertise in this procedure.

hello kgabrielalvarez  Using a combination of operations and procedures is also highly recommended. Not only will you likely reduce the overall cost of your mommy makeover, but you reduce the amount of anesthetics and the recovery time needed after procedures. An in-patient consultation with a certified PS would give you an idea about the recovery time according to the procedures you would want to have done. #recovery #time

Depending on the combination of procedures, we generally advise 3 weeks of very light activity after surgery. Most women are considering going back to a sedentary desk job at that time. However, if your work requires constant lifting greater than 10 lbs, your return to work may be a bit longer.Exercise comes between 4-6 weeks and there may be some minor restrictions on what kinds of exercise you can do at that time based on the combination of procedures you had, as well as how you're healing. Your doctor will guide you on this after surgery.

This is something your surgeon will help you determine based on how you are healing. In general for my patients, most of the early recovery is complete after three weeks. You should be up and around driving and returning to work. At six weeks you should be able to return to a regular exercise program. But again everyone heals at a different rate and you need to have this discussion with your surgeon. Good luck!

Hello and thank-you for your question.Planning ahead is key to giving yourself the appropriate time to heal. A Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to reverse the effects of pregnancy and weight gain. As is your case, it may involve breast augmentation, tummy-tuck, and liposuction. The majority of the recovery after a MMO is due to the tummy-tuck. Adding the breast augmentation will not lengthen the recovery. Everyone is different in terms of their ability to recover after surgery.  I would anticipate that you will bounce back quickly following your Mommy Makeover. However, I would advise that you take plenty of time off to recover. You are investing a great deal of time, effort and money into improving yourself, and you want to protect your investment by giving yourself the appropriate time to heal. Taking a week off may work if everything goes smoothly, but you would be better off taking at least 10 to 14 days of to be sure you will feel up to going back to work. If it is possible to arrange for a flexible schedule once you return allowing you to leave early will give you additional time if necessary. It is better to overestimate the time needed to recover rather than go back too early. It generally takes 6 weeks to get your energy back and feel back to normal.Our goal as Plastic Surgeons is not only to provide you with the good results you are looking for, but also to make it a safe and comfortable experience. I would recommend consulting with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon.Best wishes.

This is a typical (but not rigid) timeline for recovery from Mommy Makeover, which usually consists of 1) abdominoplasty 2) liposuction 3) Breast lift +/- implants 4) +/- BBL:1. First 24 hours: Overnight recovery in the facility where surgery was performed, at bed rest with hips and knees in flexed posture.  First surgical dressing and compression garments are placed at the end of the operation but before waking up from anesthesia.  Fluid and pain management by IV and bladder catheter are used.2. Post-op day 1:  Dressings and garments are changed and instructions are given on how to change them daily at home.  IV and bladder catheter are removed before discharged to home or hotel.  Begin walking with assistance in slight stooped posture.  A walker may come in handy.  OK to shower with assistance and sitting on shower bench.  Early and continued mobility is very important!  Stay well hydrated!3. Post-op day 2-3:  First office follow-up.  Dressing and garments are changed.  Instructions given on dressing changes and self breast massages for patients with implants.  4. Post-op day 7-10:  Second office follow-up.  Abdominoplasty drains may be removed.  Start walking more upright.  OK to sleep flat.  Liposuction drainage slows down or stops.5. Post-op day 14-21:  Third office follow-up.  Looped sutures are removed.  Transition from opioid pain medications (Vicodin, Norco, etc) to Tylenol or Advil.  OK to start driving and return to "desk" work.  OK to walk outside home. No lifting anything heavier than gallon of milk.  Start using scar products like silicone or vitamin E (for 3-6 months).  Consider lymphatic massages post-liposuciton.6. Post-op day 42 (6 weeks):  Fourth office follow-up.  Compression garments no longer used.  Slow down or stop self breast massages.  Light weight and cardio workouts OK but NO chest or abdomen weight training.7. 3-6 months:  Near total recovery.   Ad lib exercises.  Recovery of normal sensation in all areas of liposuction.  Smaller area of persistent/permanent numbness above the central abdominoplasty scar.  I don't recommend ANY chest exercised with breast implants...EVER!  8.12-18 months:  Total recovery.   External scars fade, soften, and flatten.  Develop a lifelong diet and exercise routine to maintain the results.

This depends on the procedures done but generally 4-6 wks. of no heavy lifting (>10 lbs.) Also it can take up to 3 months for you to see the "final" result.