What can you do to shorten recovery time from a tummy tuck?

For the best results following any plastic surgery procedure it’s important to choose your board certified surgeon carefully, discuss your goals and options very specifically, and follow your surgeon's pre-op and post-op instructions carefully and completely.
Although a tummy tuck can be performed under either IV sedation or General Anesthesia, I prefer the use of IV sedation anesthesia because patients experience much less nausea and quicker recovery from the surgery itself. To help minimize the pain during your post-op recovery, we also recommend the use of a pain pump.
Recovery from a Tummy Tuck has to balance two things: the need to get your body going as quickly as possible, versus the need to keep things quiet until your body has had a chance to heal well. You should plan to take a minimum of 2 weeks off work and if you plan to return on the 3rd week you must be limited to desk work only and part time (not a full 8 hour day). You should also refrain from driving for 3 weeks, so working from home might be an option during the 3rd week.
Following post-op instructions will help recovery. Bed rest, drinking plenty of fluids and wearing your compression garment as instructed all help your body heal. Most tummy tuck patients can resume driving and go back to work full time after 4 weeks and resume regular activities after 6 weeks.While exercise is always a good idea and can help to a certain degree, if you have a separated rectus abdominis muscle, no amount of exercise can make your stomach flat. The stomach muscle must be sewn back together to achieve a flat tummy.
Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your specific goals and options.
Best wishes!

Thank you for your question.  Unfortunately, the answer is no.  You can certainly exercise and tone your core muscles, but no amount of exercise will bring the muscles back to the midline.  Exercise will make them look better after your tummy tuck, but if you want the best result you probably should proceed with the muscle repair.  Good luck. 

We live in the age of microwave ovens and instant grits but you heal the way you heal.  Every doctor has his/her own protocol following surgery so you should probably discuss your concerns with your doctor.  As for tightening stomach muscles through exercise, it is not the muscles that are being tightened during surgery.  It is the connection between the two paired stomach muscles that is being tightened.  This area tends to stretch a bit following weight gain/loss, pregnancy, etc.  The stomach muscles regain tone but the area between them does not.  This is the area addressed during tummy tuck surgery.  No exercises will shorten your healing time here.  My suggestion is to follow your doctor's instructions and don't try to cut corners with your health.