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.

Everyone heals differently, but you should count on 6 weeks for your recovery. You  need to have an exam to determine if you will need muscle repair. If your abdominal muscles have separated, no amount of exercise will fix that. Be sure to consult with a board certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.

Dear themommynthepea,Recovery time is approximately 2 weeks. Vigorous activities should be limited for at least six weeks. During your postoperative care, your surgeon should provide specific instructions for your individual recovery. Following these instructions can help reduce post-surgery complications as well as speed up recovery time.Daniel Barrett, MD

Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

You ask a spectacular question. Everybody is different. Some women retain excellent abdominal tone following pregnancy and can avoid an abdominal plication. That would shorten your recovery somewhat. Some women cannot tighten their core enough and definitely need a plication if they have an abdominoplasty. There are many ways to improve your abdominal tone. This includes crunches, burpees, planks, yoga, you get the idea. All I can suggest is that you try your best and see what you can achieve without surgery. Good luck. Start tomorrow!

Regardless of the tummy tuck - mini, short scar, or full, the body will need six weeks to heal.  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.  I only tighten the abdominal wall to return it to an anatomic norm rather than tighten it as much as possible. This produces a functional result without producing prolonged discomfort.  The abdominal wall may need several months to get accustomed to the changes.  You should be walking normally by week 3 but perhaps at a slower pace.   Two weeks recovery is probably a reasonable period of time before returning to a sedentary job or normal day-to-day activities. You should not engage in strenuous activity for 6 weeks although walking or light cardio, and short distance driving can likely be resumed at two weeks.  
Kenneth Hughes, MD, Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Los Angeles, CA

themommynthepea.   It is wonderful that you possess the dedication and  resolve to try to achieve the best possible result after tummy tuck. The most important advice I can give you is try to achieve your ideal goal weight, preferably a BMI below 30, prior to surgery.  This will allow your surgeon to obtain the best possible results for you. If you have undergone previous pregnancy and display diastases recti or muscle separation, abdominal exercises will not correct this phenomenon. Surgical correction is needed and will be performed during your tummy tuck. Discuss the best preparations with your board-certified plastic surgeon. Good luck.

If you have a muscle separation then strengthening them before surgery will not make a difference. However, not every patient has a separation needing repair, so in that situation the recovery is faster. Other things to consider include a TAP block with Exparel for less pain and better mobility early on.

For the shortest recovery time following a tummy tuck, I suggest the no-drain or drainless tummy tuck. This requires a special suturing technique called progressive tension sutures.
The no-drain tummy tuck shortens the recovery time, there is much less discomfort, a lower risk of complications, and in my experience of about one tummy tuck a week, the result is a tighter abdomen. In addition, you are not encumbered with the dreaded drains for 5 to 10 days.
If you have a separation of the rectus (six-pack) muscles, exercising will not help this. They must be sutured together. This is generally routine during a tummy tuck, particularly in someone who has had children.Thank you for your question, and good luck.