How Long Does It Take to Completely Heal Inside After a Tummy Tuck?

Hi,

  Recovering from TUMMY TUCK surgery takes many months and the best way to look at the recovery pattern is to look ahead to one year to be the benchmark for finalization of the result.  Of course, patients see results much sooner that this but still there are changing effects that will not be seen in the early recovery time periods.

  Dimpling is  not uncommon in the suture line and this takes time to smooth out.   If you are talking about the dimpling next to the midline especially in the upper abdomen, this can be from the side of the rectus muscle of the abdomen that is still attached.  This also will usually settle down although it can leave a "pudgy" look to the area between the dimples on each side of the abdomen.  

  At 6 months, you should have noticed an improvement and if so, it will probably show less noticability as the next 6 months goes by but if you still have it in the future, you will need to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.   The muscles are tightened in the midline vertically with a tummy tuck and in so doing, this attachment from the muscle comes closer to the midline and thereby can cause the "dimpling"  Again, it is difficult to tell from your statement as to which dimpling you are noticing.

  Notice that you are having the swelling of the redraped abdominal tissue increasing during the day and better in the morning.  This is due to the vessels reattaching and getting stronger in their new position.  The yo-yo effect will decrease with time and so too as this happens, there can be some improvement of any dimpling.

  Bottom line is to have the full discussion with your plastic surgeon and see what the options are with the future.  If you are dissatisfied with the dimpling, then you need to work this out together because an unhappy patient must be given the "what if's" discussion.

    Good luck with your goals.  I am sure that this is going to be satisfactorily settled for you and your surgeon.

                   Steven M. Lynch, M.D. 

 

Great question, typically I tell my patients that you can return to daily activities at 2 weeks, but you will feel like you had surgery for 6 weeks, you will like/love your new shape in clothes at 6 weeks but will be unhappy naked, you will continue to have swelling , lumps and bumps for up to 6 months. Aesthetic results typically occur at 6 months, At 3-6 months you will love the way you look naked, but the healing process will continue for 12-18 months, it does take a while for things to return to normal.