How long do I need to wait to go swimming in the ocean after a tummy tuck?

Question

I am 6 weeks post op from having a tummy tuck, lipo of the flanks and muscle repair. My incision is healing well. There are a few tiny spots right at the pubic line that have opened a tiny bit, but are not problematic. Is it safe to go swimming at the beach? I also have been wearing my binder 24/7 and would like to take it off for a couple of hours.

Paul Vitenas, Jr., MD · Answer

Thank you very much for your question.  I normally tell my patients to wait four weeks
before swimming in a swimming pool or the ocean.  However, this is dependent on them having a
completely healed wound, without any problems. 
This is certainly a question which you should discuss with your surgeon,
and then closely follow his/her recommendations.

Yily De Los Santos, MD · Answer

I would recommend you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon. I don't allow my patients go swimming until the wounds are totally  healed. Best wishes!

Ram Kalus, MD, FACS · Answer

All of the previous answers to your questions are correct. There should be no harm in removing your binder at this point, either temporarily or permanently, and the likelihood of impacting your incision negatively with exposure to sea water at this point in time is minimal. Please confirm this with your plastic surgeon just to be sure, and be cautious about not over exerting yourself.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

If you still have small open wounds I would not recommend going swimming in the ocean.  Please recheck this with your plastic surgeon

Jake Lim, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

I do not recommend swimming in the ocean until your wound is completely healed. You can otherwise develop an infection.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD · Answer

My patients can get back in the water as soon as all wounds are closed. However your particular situation will be dictated by your own surgeon.

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Usually, you should wait at least a month before submerging your body in water if your incisions are healed properly. However, you may increase your risk of infection right now since you mentioned your incision is not entirely closed. Please talk to your surgeon to find out what is best for you, since it is difficult to provide advice without inspecting your incision.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

If your wounds were healed I would have no objection to ocean swimming at six weeks. By six weeks of normal healing, the strength of the incision is about 90% of the complete strength that will be attained. The open areas may be "stitch abscesses" which can be treated by your surgeon by removing the stitch. Usually that speeds up the healingAll the best.

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank you very much for your
interesting question.  We normally
recommend that you do leave it at least 4 weeks following a tummy tuck before
swimming in the ocean. If all your wounds and incisions
have healed well with no problems swimming should be absolutely safe at this
stage but do be a little bit careful about exerting yourself too much as you
can sometimes pull some of the internal stitches if you stretch too much. I hope your good recovery
continues following your operation.

Jeffrey Zwiren, MD · Answer

You should never go swimming in the pool or ocean until your wounds are completely healed.  This is a question that is best answered by your plastic surgeons as they know exactly what is your condition and the stage of your  healing   at this particular moment

How long do I need to wait to go swimming in the ocean after a tummy tuck?

Answers (15)

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