After a full Tummy Tuck can you still do sit ups?

Question

I was told that after you have a tummy tuck I can exercise but I can no longer try to achieve abs, because the muscle sutures might come undone. is this true?

Matthias Solomon, MD · Answer

I have patients gradually resume all activity including exercise at 8 weeks; at 12 weeks just about anything is OK. There is no reason for the sutured muscle to break down after 3 months in a healthy person. At this time, scar tissue holds tissues together not sutures. In fact, I use dissolvable sutures to repair the muscle; these sutures lose their holding strength by 3 months and are completely absorbed shortly after that.

Craig S. Rock, MD, FACS · Answer

I advise my patients to avoid strenuous exercise that would stress the abdominal repair for 3 months following surgery.  After that point you should be able to resume all normal exercises.I would recommend that you consult with and have your surgery performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon experienced at performing tummy tucks, and be sure to follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions.Best wishes.

Germán Newall, MD, FACS, FICS · Answer

Thank you for your question. Core exercises can typically be started at 3 months post op. I do not recommend abdominal crunches for up to 8 months post op with my patients. Hope this helps,Dr. Newall

N. Bill Aydin, MD · Answer

Yes. after a tummy tuck you can do sit ups.  Of course you need to wait and heal, I recommend my patients wait about 8-10 weeks and working on them slowly. Once you are completely healed you can go back to your regular workout routine.  Remember to discuss your concerns with your surgeon as we all tend to have slightly different pre and post op instructions. Good luck

Francis Johns, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.I disagree with that statement. I recommend waiting to do ab exercises for the first 8 weeks after a tummy tuck with muscle repair. After 8 weeks, then I have patients start with 25-30 crunches daily for a week and gradually add on each week. Once you are able to do 50 crunches daily, then you can start adding in other exercises. The key is to gradually build back up the strength, you cannot just jump back in where you were before surgery because that can disrupt the muscle repair. Good luck with healing.

David Stoker, MD · Answer

If the abdominal muscles are tightened as part of a tummy tuck, it is important to allow the muscles to heal before resuming full exercise. I would recommend waiting six weeks before exercise and another month before beginning abdominal muscle exercises.

Ven Erella, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. After TT you can do sit ups. But you have to wait till it heals and cleared by your PS. Usually about 8 weeks. Please consult with a board certified PS for evaluation.

Paul J. Leahy, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. No, that is not accurate. Once you are healed, and your surgeon has cleared you to begin abdominal workouts, you can do anything you want to. Now, it will take you awhile to get back to where you were before surgery, so go slow with it. If you have pain, you need to back off. Best wishes.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

Studies have shown that the strength of scar tissue is at 90-95% of its final strength by 8 weeks after surgery. At that point it is the scar tissue that maintains the muscle repair and the sutures are no longer of importance.Our patients refrain from any core muscle work for 8 weeks and have had no problems with starting back on their exercise program at that point.

After a full Tummy Tuck can you still do sit ups?

Answers (9)

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