Activities to Avoid After Tummy Tuck Surgery?

You have hired a surgeon to take care of you because you trusted his skill and judgment.   Listen to him. My patients are eased back into activity and generally are fully athletically active by 3 months.  But every patient is different and we titrate activity to the specific course of the patient.

Hello ktn. It's completely normal to have questions about recovery after undergoing a full tummy tuck. Let's address your concerns about activity restrictions, posture, garment use, and how to recognize if you're straining your muscles too soon.

Activities to Avoid:

Heavy Lifting: Avoid lifting anything heavier than a few pounds for at least six weeks. Lifting heavy objects can strain your abdominal muscles and compromise your sutures.
Strenuous Exercise: Avoid vigorous exercise and activities that involve intense abdominal movements until your surgeon clears you. This typically means waiting 6-8 weeks post-surgery.
Bending and Stretching: Activities that involve significant bending, stretching, or twisting of the abdomen should also be avoided during the initial recovery phase.
Posture and Standing Straight:

It's common not to be able to stand straight immediately after a tummy tuck due to the tightness of the newly positioned abdominal tissues and muscles. Gradually, as the healing progresses, you'll be able to stand up straighter. This process might take a couple of weeks.
Using Your Abdominal Muscles:

After a tummy tuck, you should be cautious with using your abdominal muscles. Basic movements like getting out of bed or a chair should be done using your arm strength to avoid straining your abdomen.
If you pull a muscle or a stitch, you might experience a sharp increase in pain, noticeable swelling, or even a popping sensation. Contact your surgeon immediately if you suspect any of these issues.
Compression Garment Usage:

The reason for wearing a compression garment is to reduce swelling, provide support to the abdominal area, and help the skin conform to the new body contours.
While the garment should be snug, it should not cause pain or discomfort. If it feels too tight, discuss adjusting it with your surgeon or nurse. The garment typically needs to be worn for several weeks, often 4-6 weeks, but specific duration can vary based on individual recovery and surgeon’s advice.
Listening to Your Body:

Pain is a good indicator that something might be wrong or that you might be doing too much too soon. Always follow the pain as a guideline, and if activities hurt, scale back or avoid them until you've healed more.
Follow-up and Consultation:

Keep all your follow-up appointments with your surgeon. These visits are crucial for assessing how well you are healing and when it is safe to resume various activities.
Recovery from a tummy tuck is a gradual process, and it is crucial to follow your plastic surgeon’s post-operative instructions closely. By taking proper care and avoiding certain activities during the initial recovery phase, you can help ensure a smooth and successful healing process. If you have any doubts or unusual symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your surgical team.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS
Plastic Surgeon

Abdominoplasty removes excess abdominal skin while
simultaneously tightening the abdominal muscles.Patients can anticipate limited physical
activity for ten to fourteen days following surgery.I typically tell my patients bathroom and
kitchen privileges initially with slow resumption of normal activities over the
next two weeks.Patients can usually
return to work in two weeks if no strenuous activity or heavy lifting is
involved.After eight weeks, they can
resume all their normal activities including heavy lifting.It’s important to go slowly at first and
listen to your body.Patients
typically wear an abdominal binder for three weeks following surgery.This garment should fit snugly, but not too
tight.This minimizes swelling and
increases comfort.Patients should
gradually resume an upright position as tolerated.For
many patients, abdominoplasty is a life changing experience.This procedure improves self-esteem, self-image and self-confidence
which ultimately results in an improved quality of life.

It is not specifically the strict weight of lifting that concerns us but the use of the stomach muscles. I have had one person. who was accustomed to having a bowel movement everyday, strain so intensely that they ruptured the muscle repair.

Our concerns with lifting are related to two features:

1.The potential for bleeding in the first 24 hours and then again between 7-10 days
2.The possibility of rupturing the muscle repair. This can occur anytime for 6 weeks after surgery.
However, the limitations are subject to interpretation and, in my practice, I advise patients to be cautious for 2 weeks. When lifting children, I ask that friends or partners place the child in your lap or that you use your legs and thighs to lift.

KTN,
The best advice is to follow the instructions from your surgeon. However, in most cases, I tell patients that it takes about one week to stand up straight. You should not lift anything heavy (more than 5 pounds) for the first six weeks. Basically, your body will tell you if you are pushing it too much. As much aerobic (walking) activity that you can do is great. Good luck.