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

Question

Hi I'm getting a mummy make over (breast lift, tummy tuck, lipo to flanks, mons and possibly back bra line too. I'm a single mum of 2 young kids aged 3 and 6. How long will I be unable to do my regular mummy stuff for, or how long will I need to stay in bed realistically? I'm also self employed as a hairdresser, is 3 weeks off enough? Will having kids minded for my 1st day days be enough? Thanks!

Christine Fisher, MD, FACS · Answer

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!

Lucie Capek, MD · Answer

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

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

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!

Jeffrey Wisnicki, MD · Answer

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.

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

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.

Omar Tillo, MD, MS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Thank yo for the questions. The way I explain it to my patients is: 
- The first week you'll be at home barely able to do anything. You'll need help with your little kids and work around the house during this time. You should be making an effort to walk around and mobilise as much as possible to keep the blood flowing and aid recovery. 
- the second week you start be able to do light activities and going out for short walks. 
- third week might be able to restart non physical house and office work
Heavy lifting and physical work takes 4-6 weeks. 
These are just averages as people vary in their speed of recovery.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear pumpkin2017,
recovery time is approximately 2 weeks. Vigorous activities should be limited for at least six weeks. During your postoperative care, your plastic surgeon will provide specific instructions for your individual recovery. Following these instructions can help reduce post-surgery complications as well as speed up recovery time. 
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Franziska Huettner, MD, PhD, FACS · Answer

Dear pumpkin2017, 
Thank you for your question.

Congratulations for wanting to take care of yourself and to get your body back in shape. You are planning on undergoing an extensive amount of surgery, and I would recommend for you to plan accordingly for your postoperative care.

Realistically speaking, with you having a 3 and a 6-year-old, I recommend you arrange for help with your children during the initial week, possible even 2 weeks to attend their needs.

Your ability to lift and perform any strenuous tasks will be limited for 6-8 weeks while your body heals. Most patients need a minimum of two weeks for the initial recovery, but 6-8 weeks to fully recover.  Three weeks of downtime should be a sufficient amount of time away from work, although you should monitor your recovery on a daily basis to make sure your timeline lines up after your surgery. 
If you have any other questions about the mommy makeover procedure or the recovery process, I recommend you discuss them with your board-certified plastic surgeon during an in-person consultation. Best of luck with your procedure!

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

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.  Our office recommends that someone stay with you for the first 24-48 hours after surgery.  Many plastic surgeons will recommend 4 to 6 weeks before resuming strenuous activity with a limit of 10 -15 pounds for lifting. You may be able to return to your profession as a hairdresser three weeks after surgery; access tolerance by starting back part time. Your PS will be your best resource in answering these questions.
Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Pejman Aflaki, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for the question. Recovery from a mommy makeover is likely around 7-10 days. You are advised against staying in bed and we all encourage the patients to get out of bed and walk around early post op. You will likely need some extra help to take care of your kids, but should be able to slowly go independent in a week or two.  Patients are advised to avoid lifting for 6 weeks or so post op. You should discuss all these concerns with your plastic surgeon. Best,

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

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