How long does recovery take for a tummy tuck and breast lift?

Question

I'm a student and I want to do a tummy tuck and breast lift. However, I just wanted to know whether a month for recovery would be enough as Im limited on time constraints.

Shlomo Widder, MD · Answer

Dear Madam,  Tummy tuck is the bigger  operation of the two, so I will relate to  it only.  Pain and discomfort  tolerance vary from patient to patient.  I had patients who returned to non strenuous work after 3-4 days and others after 2-3 weeks. The average, though, return to light duty work after one week.  So, in your situation, going back to school after one months, is more than enough, as long as you do not have to involved in strenuous activity.  In my practice all physical restriction  are lifted after 6-8 weeks.   Always, consult with experienced board certified plastic surgeons who operate in accredited surgery center for your safety. Most importantly, check the before and after pictures in the photo gallery, to make sure that they are numerous, consistent and attractive.                             Best of luck,                                              Dr Widder

Rukmini S. Rednam, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello 325ama,In general combining a tummy tuck and breast lift or mommy makeover surgery requires about 4-6 weeks of recovery.  I have however had patients return back to work as early as 1-2 weeks after surgery depending on what type of work they do and how they handle discomfort.  Depending on the type of TT recovery may be quite minimal, mini TT or more involved due to muscle tightening, standard or extended TT.  If you are considering a breast lift with implants this can also make recovery more complicated than a breast lift alone.  I find that patient's know best how they handle pain.  So if you know that you handle pain well and are a very motivated woman than 4 weeks may be more than enough time for recovery.  Use of nerve blocks with Exparel (a long acting numbing agent) used during surgery has really helped many of my patients get up and moving and feeling better faster, and would be a good option for your if your plastic surgeon offers it. I do put weight lifting restrictions of no more than 5-10 lbs x 6 weeks for my patients, but most are able to return to "normal life" and still maintain this restriction for that time period.When you starting going to consultations be sure to communicate your concerns and timeline to your plastic surgeon so you can together plan if this is a feasible option for you.  Best of Luck!Dr.Rednam

Miguel Delgado, MD · Answer

This is something to discuss with your surgeon, for my patients, I want them to wait 6 weeks before resuming any type of formal exercise. One month however, should be plenty of time to return to school. Good luck.

Thomas Trevisani, MD · Answer

A month should be enough time for recovery from your intended procedures. All strenuous activities should be restricted for up to 2 months. Keep in mind that healing will continue for a year or longer

Badar Jan, MD · Answer

An excellent question. Combining procedure is a safe and effective way to make pleasing changes and shorten and reduce overall recovery time. The tummy tuck portion of the procedure will essentially dictate the recovery. 1 month will be plenty of recovery time to return to regular schoool work. At six weeks patients are able to resume cardiovascular exercises. Many patients feel comfortable returning to work and school after 2 weeks
Best wishes,
Dr. Jan

William Bruno, MD · Answer

A month recovery should be more than enough time for a tummy tuck/breast lift provided you don't have to perform any strenuous activity of heavy lifting. You could even be in a classroom setting much sooner than one month in some cases.Best wishes,Dr.Bruno

Anthony Barabas, MBBS, FRCS (Plast) · Answer

Many thanks for your question. Recovery from a breast lift is quicker with dressings off and normal showering by a week, and you can take off the support bra and resume normal activities by 6 Weeks. Tummy tuck takes longer. The binder comes off at 6 weeks, but only light exercise until around 3 months post op.

Benjamin Mandel, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Recovery is variable from patient to patient and is also dependent on the extent of the operation. For traditional abdominoplasty with mastopexy, I usually recommend very limited physical activity for 3-4 weeks, followed by avoidance of heavy lifting, vigorous exercise, and core exercises for an additional 3-4 weeks. That generally means a total of 6-8 weeks of limitations. I also advise at least 2 weeks off work, longer if the job requires strenuous activity. Swelling after these procedures can last several months. All this being said, recommendations will vary significantly from physician to physician. I suggest you meet with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns. Best of luck!

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Healing and recovery are patient dependent.  During recovery, you do not want to place a strain on your incision.  Most of the time the incision is healed by 4 to 6 weeks.  Swelling after a tummy tuck usually lasts 3 to 6 months, but most of the swelling is gone after a few weeks. You may find yourself hunched over for a few days post op; this can be attributed to a combination of repair and incision.  The muscles have been irritated to a certain extent by plication and the surgery itself.  The abdominal wall may need several months to get accustomed to the changes.  Most patients need 1 to 2 weeks off before returning to a sedentary job (student) and 6 weeks before strenuous activity.BL recovery may take up to two weeks.  You do not want to do anything strenuous or that requires you to bend or stretch.  Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic SurgeonLos Angeles, CA

Andrew T. Lyos, MD, FACS · Answer

The recovery following a tummy tuck depends on the extent of surgery (mini, modified, full, or extended tummy tuck), the amount of liposuction, number of additional procedures performed, ect.  There has been a break through in the technology of post op pain relief for tummy tucks.  A new medication named Exparel is now being used that will provide for 3-4 days of post op pain relief, speeding up the recovery process!  The procedure can be done as an outpatient, but an overnight stay may be recommended.  Individuals will generally take a week to 10 days off of work.  Most of my patients are able to stand upright at 2 to weeks. It is normal to still feel tired and not quite yourself 3 weeks after a tummy tuck with liposuction. Swelling begins to subside in 3 weeks and it may take 6-8 weeks to resolve.  My patient report that they typically start to feel better 2 to 3 weeks after the procedure and report feeling "normal" 6 weeks post-operatively. With my own patients, I do my best to keep the lines of communication open and do everything possible to speed their recovery.	Best of luck,	Andrew Lyos, MD, FACS            Tweet

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