What are the lifting restrictions after having a tummy tuck with muscle repair?

Question

immediately postop, at one month postop, 3 months postop and 6 months postop. I am a nurse and lifting is required when I return back to work.

Sacha Obaid, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question! For my patients having a tummy tuck, I recommend that they do not lift over 10 lbs for the first 6 weeks post surgery. If you are required to do heavy lifting at work, I would recommend returning to work on light duty (without lifting activity), or waiting until you are 6 weeks post op to return to work with no restrictions. Best of luck!

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

mimagotbody.      I appreciate your concern, and I usually ask my Tummytuck  patients to refrain from heavy lifting or aggressive workouts for three months after surgery, especially when muscle plication was performed. After that period of time, you should be able to return to normal exercise and workload, turning patients. However first get clearance from your plastic surgeon. Be certain to consult with a board-certified plastic surgeon

Kamran Azad, MD · Answer

Every plastic surgeon has their own recovery protocol and recovery time is highly dependent on the patient and the extent of the tummy tuck surgery. Most patients who work sedentary jobs (desk job) should be able to return to work a 5-7 days after the surgery and resume most activities after 5-7 weeks. Though as a nurse, I would recommend taking two weeks off. A week after the surgery, a patient may start resume light exercise, but heavy lifting of weight more than 15lbs, sit-ups, and crunches, should not resume until 8 weeks after the surgery. I recommend speaking directly with your plastic surgeon about his/her recommendation for your situation.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question. Lifting after tummy tuck surgery should always done carefully. Since your not may patient I cannot give you any advice. I can tell you, however, that plenty of nurses I have personally treated with tummy tuck over the last 15 years have done well. I suggest you discuss this carefully with your plastic surgeon as each surgeon's technique is variable.Good luck. Dr. ALDO

Richard G. Reish, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello and thank you for your question.  The
best advice you can receive is from an in-person consultation.  I recommend taking off two weeks from work after surgery.  At two weeks, you could return to work, but with light duty.  At one month, you should be okay to lift moderate weight.  You could return to lifting full weight by 2 months.  If you are an appropriate candidate for a tummy tuck, this can be done through a low
and short incision, all completely below the bikini line.  The belly button can be designed to look
natural and have no scars on the exterior.  
Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flat abdomen.  Make sure you specifically look
at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery
performed by your surgeon and evaluate their results.  The most important
aspect is to find a surgeon you are comfortable with. I recommend that you seek
consultation with a qualified board-certified plastic surgeon who can evaluate
you in person.
Best wishes and good luck.
Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS
Harvard-trained plastic surgeon

Salem Samra, MD, FACS · Answer

I recommend not lifting anything heavier than 5 lbs for the first 3 weeks post-op, nothing heavier than 15 lbs for weeks 3 to 6, and then after 6 weeks I tell patients to gradually increase their lifting without restriction. I also tell my patients to wear an abdominal binder for the first 6 weeks whether they are lifting anything or not.

Curtis Wong, MD · Answer

but in my practice, my patients are told not to do anything strenuous (where effort and grunting is needed) around their waist for at least 3 weeks if the muscle is not done and 6 weeks if the muscle repair was done.  I have a lot of nurses that my protocol hasn't produced an adverse outcome yet.  So in my practice, I would be asking you to see if your colleagues will give you the easy assignments (but you will owe favors) after 3 weeks post-op to 6 weeks post-op when you can start lifting as desired.

Robert L. Kraft, MD, FACS · Answer

If you can arrange a light duty assignment, you would return to work after two weeks but no lifting patients for another four. You should discuss this with your supervisor and remember that you gave protections under short term disability, the Americans with Disablities  Act and the FMLA.

Ben Gbulie, MD, FACS · Answer

HiThanks for your question.You will need to follow your PS's instructions after surgery as these differ among surgeons. I typically recommend avoiding lifting for about 6 weeks - this may be modified depending on findings at surgery. Waiting this time allows the fascial plication to heal.I hope this helps.....

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I usually allow patients to start light aerobics by about 3-4 weeks and some heavy lifting by about 6-8 weeks.

What are the lifting restrictions after having a tummy tuck with muscle repair?

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