Single mom and mommy makeover recovery. How long will I need to stay in bed realistically?

Hi!
Great question. You definitely need to take some time for self-care and healing after your procedure.  I recommend at least a week with help for the kids and another just to heal before returning to work. But I never encourage patients to stay in bed, even early on in the recovery. This can increase your risk of serious complications, including blood clots. Your best strategy is to rest and sleep in a recliner, get up and move around at least 10 mins every hour during the day and start walking and straightening up by the end of the first week. From 2 weeks to six weeks, you can slowly resume activities that increase your heart rate but avoid heavy lifting, high impact exercise like running and core exercises for 8 weeks.  This is my general approach but your surgeon will base your personal timetable on your exact procedure, lifestyle and health.  
Best of Luck! 
Dr. Lucie Capek

Thank you for your question. For my patient having a mommy makeover, I recommend that they take 10 to 14 days off of work, three weeks off of cardio at the gym, and six weeks off of weight training and yoga exercises. It is best to have help with the kids and around the house for the first week after surgery. By the second when you should be able to be more independent around the house and with your children. I hope this helps!

You are never really confined to bed (and we certainly wouldn't want you developing blood clots from not moving around!)  3 weeks of taking it easy  after the procedures you are having done should work well with a gradual return to your normal responsibilities, but I generally have my patients avoid any heavy exertional activities or exercise for another 3-6 weeks which may vary depending on how they are healing.  Precise guidelines and timelines are obviously at the discretion of your operating surgeon.

Hello! Thanks for your question. While you will not necessarily need to “stay in bed” for very long, your activity levels will be limited for a few weeks. I would recommend arranging for help with childcare for one to two weeks, after which you will be able to do most daily activities like running errands and preparing meals on your own. However, you will need to avoid lifting your children until your surgeon clears you to do so (this could be six to eight weeks). You will also need to be careful around your children during this time if they are energetic and may accidentally bump your breast or abdomen area.


In terms of work, I would plan on taking at least three weeks off, especially since you have an active job that requires you to be on your feet. I recommend speaking with your surgeon about your lifestyle compared to your surgical plan, so they can offer more personalized advice about your recovery. Be sure to stay in touch with your surgeon as you heal, as well, so they can ensure you are still on track and can let you know when you are healthy enough to resume certain activities. Best of luck!

You should plan on having help for the first week or two for your children. Avoid any heavy lifting for 6 weeks.You should get plenty of rest however you should also be up and walking around often to prevent blood clots. Three weeks off work should be enough time. Good luck.