How soon after a mommy makeover can I go back to work?

Thanks for the question. You can go back to normal life without any problems 2 weeks after surgery. I wish you all the best.

The answer to your question depends on a couple of things: 1.) what procedures would your mommy makeover involve, 2.) what kind of work do you do.

If you have a typical mommy makeover it involves a breast augmentation with or without lifting, tummy tuck and liposuction of the hips and thighs, but sometimes it is a reduction instead of implants, or a mini tummy tuck or just liposuction instead of the full tummy tuck, depending on your exact concerns. Each combination has a little different recuperation schedule. You will have to figure out the specifics with your plastic surgeon.

In general, most people take 10-14 days off of work, and are out of heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for 4-6 weeks. Usually you can start walking and light exercise after about 2 weeks. If you have a strenuous job requiring lifting or forceful activity you may need to wait longer to go back safely. Also, if there is a part of your job that you can do from home, you may be able to resume that before 10 days (just as long as you are off of the pain meds when you are making important decisions!). The most important thing to keep in mind it that you should not try to push things and do too much too soon… you will only delay your progress and set yourself up for complications if you do.

The Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BreastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, or #breastreduction.    

Healing after a  #tummytuck will require time. Some patients are out of bed and walking the night of surgery and every hour while awake. I allow my patients to return to work at one to two weeks with 14 days preferred.  However, no lifting or straining.  At three weeks, increased level of activity and full with no restrictions, at 6 weeks. #MummyTummy is a term given to modified tummy tucks which can use liposuction and skin tightening with radiofrequency such Vanquish, Vela3, thermage, thermiRF and others.  The actual fat contouring can be done non-surgically as well with #UltraShape or Cool-Sculpting.As I advise my patients, if your work keeps you sedentary, you may return whenever you feel up to it. If your work is strenuous, wait until your work activity does not cause any superficial pain. Some employers will modify a person’s job duties so they can back sooner, but without physical activity. Our office can provide our patients with a note stating they are not to engage in strenuous activity for a specified period of time. The note will not disclose what procedure they have underwent. Therefore, you may have to request a similar note from your surgeon if you are not independently employed. I recommend avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous #activity for six weeks following your surgery. With that said, it may help you plan your return to work accordingly.

As for heavy lifting and other #strenuous #activities, it should be avoided for until you have clearance from your surgeon. You may, however, do normal activities at any time if they cause no pain or #discomfort. Let your body tell you what you can or cannot do. Aerobic exercise will raise your blood pressure, which could cause late bleeding and harm your result. Once you begin exercising again, start gently and let your body tell you what it can tolerate. Don’t rush!!  If you have concerns about your healing, or pain that you question to be unusual, it is important to call your plastic surgeon to discuss these further asked to be examined.

Dear Gabsg,The time needed for recovery depends on the specific procedures that were done and how rapidly you heal...It is best to give yourself 2-3 weeks. If a mini-tummy tuck or just a simple breast augmentation is done, you can go back to work in1-2 weeks.It also depends the level of physical activity needed at work.Hope this was helpful.Best,Dr Sajjadian

  If a tummy tuck is part of the planned operation, the minimum time to return to a sedentary job would be 1 week.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA