Exercise after tummy tuck surgery: how long should I wait to resume my workouts?

It is extremely important to get complete rest in the first two weeks following surgery.  I usually see my patient weekly during the first three weeks and if there is no evidence of delayed wound healing they may return to office work at that time.    Final healing occurs at 6 weeks and no heavy lifting should be done prior to that time.  As for improving core strength I recommend starting with planks instead to situps/crunches.

It takes about two months before one can resume exercise. First it is best to start with low impact cardio.  Then at 3 months more strenuous activity is introduced.  It is typically 6 months before it is safe to start core exercises.  If the muscles are properly reconstructed, it is not necessary to start working the core before then.  If there is swelling that results from exercise, then you are doing too much for your body at that time. 

This is a very common question I hear.  With tummy tuck surgery, most surgeons use permanent suture
that helps put the muscles back in place. However, over time the body will
create scar tissue, which further strengthens the repair. Maximum scar strength
occurs at approximately three months after surgery. As a result, for most of my
patients I would recommend starting lighter exercise approximately 4-6 weeks
after surgery, but being somewhat cautious about more strenuous exercise and
abdominal exercise until the patient is getting closer to that three month mark
where scar tissue has reached its final strength so that it is less likely they
would tear or break the sutures that help to re-sculpt the abdomen.

That is a great question. A tummy tuck not only requires the
excision and suturing of extra skin, but also the internal suturing of
the abdominal muscles which will lengthen the recovery period. It is imperative
to allow six weeks for the abdominal wall and skin to close over and fully heal
before returning back to regular movement and exercise. Exercising while
healing could potentially tear your internal sutures as well as cause the
formation of a seroma or liquid build up. Remain discipline and patient to obtain
optimal results. Also when you return to exercise you will need to do so
gradually. You will not be able to resume where you left off. I
hope this has helped.

You should wait at least 6 weeks after an abdominoplasty before doing
anything strenuous. Sometimes you can begin moderate exercise sooner.

I am a little conservative and recommend no strenuous exercise for at least 8 to 10 weeks after the procedure. If my patients are very active, I have in the past limited their activity up to 12 weeks. I encourage walking from day one.

Depending on your occupation and activity level you may return to work and light activity around two weeks. At around 6 weeks you can generally resume your usual activities and restart your exercise routines. Generally my patients start slowly and gradually increase the intensity of their workouts starting at 6 weeks. Please consult your surgeon first though.

After a tummy tuck procedure with muscle tightening , a gentle start to exercise can be done at 2-3 weeks with walks and treadmill and gradually build up. any weights should be used after nearly 3 months to give time for muscle repair to settle down.

Thank you for your question. I always recommend to my patients to start exercises tend six weeks after PO, gradually: first, gentle walks without sweating, then, you can go to the gym to do aerobics, and, after four months you can stats with machines exercise and start with light weights, and, if there are no problems, only six months after PO may charge "free weights".
Respectfully,Dr. Emmanuel Mallol Cotes.

It is super important to be up and walking every two hours following Tummy Tuck and one week after the drain is out (average 1 week), so starting about week two when I have patients beginning to walk for exercise and then gradually increasing activity to full impact activity at 6 weeks.  I do not recommend formal sit ups except in yoga etc and tell patients there is nothing that will improve the look of your tummy that you can do, more than what we do in surgery.All my BestBrad Bengtson, MD FACS

The muscle repair takes a good 6-8 weeks to have enough strength to do vigorous exercise.  Also, I tell my patients no heavy lifting greater than 10 lbs until 6 weeks because I want the muscle tightening sutures to hold.