Wait Time After Running a Marathon to Have a Body Lift?

Usually I do not implement exercise restrictions pre-surgery. However, a marathon can be very taxing on the body and creates the possibility for injury. It is important that patients are as healthy as possible going into surgery to ensure the best possible recovery period and surgical results. Without meeting you in person, I would recommend that you wait 1-2 weeks after your marathon to move forward with a body lift procedure. During this in between period it is important that you are taking in adequate amounts of protein to help with the tissue repair from both the marathon and the upcoming surgery. As always, be sure to check with your surgeon and follow his or her instructions regarding surgical preparation.

Thank you for your question about how long you should wait after running a marathon before undergoing a lower and upper body lift. Running a marathon is a tremendous physical feat that places a lot of demand on your cardiovascular, muscular, and immune systems. Because of this, it is important to allow your body sufficient time to fully recover before having major elective surgery like a body lift.

In general, I recommend waiting at least 2 to 4 weeks after completing a marathon before undergoing a lower and upper body lift. This gives your body time to recover from the physical stress and any muscle breakdown or dehydration that occurred during the race. Ideally, your energy levels, nutritional status, and lab values (such as iron and protein levels) should be restored to normal prior to surgery.

If you experienced any injury, illness, or immune suppression from marathon training or racing, it may be wise to wait even longer—up to 6 to 8 weeks—to ensure you are in optimal health before undergoing a major procedure. Body lifts, particularly when combining upper and lower body lift procedures, are significant surgeries that require your body to be in top condition to heal well and reduce the risk of complications.

Before moving forward with surgery, I recommend scheduling a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who specializes in post-weight loss body contouring. Be open about your recent marathon and ask if any preoperative labs (such as hemoglobin, albumin, or CRP) are needed to confirm you're ready. If you have any underlying fatigue, muscle soreness, or signs of inflammation, it may be best to wait a bit longer before proceeding.

If you have further questions about body lifts, including extended body lift, circumferential body lift, upper body lift, or lower body lift, I encourage you to consult with an experienced plastic surgeon who has performed at least 100 of these procedures and has before and after photos to show their work.

Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen
(President of the American Society of Bariatric Plastic Surgeons, Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, Fellow of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American College of Surgery, International College of Surgery, and American Board of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgery, American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery, and RealSelf Hall of Fame.)

Great question! There are no rules on waiting time after running a marathon and having surgery.

Based on my own personal experiences of running marathons I would suggest that you wait 1 or preferably 2 weeks after the marathon before having elective surgery. It does take your body some time to recover from the effort and you may finish the marathon with some niggling injuries that you didn't have before.

Being fit enough to run a marathon suggests that you are in good health and that your body should cope well with the stress of major surgery. After all the time you have spent training for the marathon you may find that the post operative exercise restrictions are psychologically taxing, or alternatively you may welcome the enforced temporary rest.

Good luck with the marathon, don't go out too fast and don't try anything new on the day. Best of luck with your surgery, too!

Dear sxyclara00,

There are just no clear rules on this one.  Every runner recovers at their own speed and rate so you have to listen to your body.  I would recommend you increase your protein intake in preparation for your surgery as will need more to recover from both your marathon and your surgery.  If you have any leg injuries that occur with your running, please delay your surgery until they have mended to minimize your risks of blood clots in your legs during and after surgery.  Good luck with both efforts!

There is not hard and fast rule when to have surgery after a marathon. You may want to give yourself a week or two to recover form the marathon.