Too much too soon after tummy tuck?

Question

I had a tummy tuck with Lipo exactly one week ago. Since day one I've had minimal pain and hardly no swelling. I also did not have drainage tubes. I can stand up straight with no pain or tightness and can move around quite easily. I have weaned myself off pain meds and only 1 p/o. Should I allow myself to continue to be active more and more each day or should I err on the side of caution and remain sedentary for a while longer? What are if any implications of too much activity after surgery?

Carmina Cardenas, MD · Answer

I would encourage you to take it easy and rest a bit more, your body need the strength to heal properly, even though you feel great. No exercise or major effort activities should been done. Complications: open wounds, chronic swelling, seromas...Dr. Cardenas

Robert M. Kachenmeister, MD · Answer

This is common after surgery that goes well and has very little pain. Keeping patients from overdoing it can be a challenge. If you do too much too early you put yourself at risk for seromas, hematomas, or incision separation. Be careful and follow the instructions of your surgeon. Best of luck.

Jourdan Gottlieb, MD · Answer

It does take 6 weeks for the wound healing strength to approach 90% of the full strength that it will achieve, so heavy activity should still be avoided. More appropriate source of specific advice is your surgeon. All the best.

John Zavell, MD, FACS · Answer

You are progressing very well after you surgery and it is tempting to be very active.  However, be careful of strenuous or intensive activity when only one week after surgery.  Wound healing studies show that your surgery site is weak at only one week after surgery and you could disrupt the wound or increase the risk of a seroma forming.  I applaud your desire to be active.  Any increase in activity should be gradual and avoid any stress on your abdomen.   Your wound needs some T.L.C. at this time

Francisco Canales, MD · Answer

Congratulations! It sounds like you have done very well so far.  Increased activity can lead to complications. While we would not recommend for our patients to just "sit around," we are careful as to when to start real activities.  Follow your surgeon's recommendations faithfully.  He/she knows you best and has your best interests in mind. Below is a fully-healed tummy tuck patient who also had liposuciton.

Too much too soon after tummy tuck?

Answers (5)

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