Can I Pick Up Kids After Mommy Makeover?

We instruct our patients to avoid lifting more than 10 pounds for two weeks following surgery.  I think it would be in your best interest to arrange for help with the twins for at least two weeks following surgery.  While lifting should be avoided, you can still hold the children if you are sitting. Best of luck,

Thank you for your question. You definitely want to follow your own
surgeon's post-op activity instructions. This is a general guide I give
to my patients as to the recoveryWeek 1) Discomfort and tightness
level progressively decreases with each day. Swelling decreases a great
deal after one week.Week
2) Unlikely to need any narcotic support except maybe at night.
Swelling and tightness continues to improve compared to week 1Weeks
3-6) May need tylenol or ibuprofen for intermittent discomfort.
Swelling completely resolved. Tightness may continue as the implants
over an additional few months into their final position. Most people return to work in some capacity.As far as activity, here is a safe guide:1) No heavy lifting or strenuous activity for 6 weeks (a gallon of milk as a guide).2) Resume walking at a leisurely pace right after surgery (e.g. 2 mph)3) At 2 weeks, you can walk 2 miles at 2mph4) At 3 weeks, you can walk 3 miles at 3mph5) At 4-5 weeks, you can walk 4 miles at 4mph6)
At 6 weeks, you can resume all activities, but listen to your body and
use discomfort or tightness as a guide so you don't over do it. So
as far as the little ones, I would recommend having help for basic
needs like lifting into the car seat. You can cuddle with them while
you are sitting down, but you should avoid the tendency to multitask
with one child in your arms while you are busy doing other tasks.

         It’s not unusual for
mommy makeover patients to have small children at home. Unfortunately, lifting
children following mommy makeover surgery can adversely impact the results of
this procedure.

 

         Both abdominoplasty
with muscle plication and sub muscular breast augmentation can be adversely
impacted by heavy lifting. Muscles can be torn and implants displaced by sudden
muscle contraction and bleeding can result.

 

         For this reason, we
generally recommend minimal lifting in the first two weeks, following surgery.
We also don’t recommend lifting more than twenty pounds for four to six weeks
after surgery. We also instruct patients to allow their children to crawl onto
their laps rather then lift them in an upward direction. This approach
hopefully minimizes complications in the post-operative period.

Postoperative care and activity restrictions are very important for your recovery and your ultimate result. Lifting toddlers after 1 week will most likely create an increase risk for complications like, bleeding, swelling, fluid collections, scar separation and scar widening. I typically tell my patients that these two procedures requires that you have help lifting toddlers and doing manual labor like housework for 3 weeks. When you have breast augmentation with breast implants under the muscle you need to prevent bleeding and fluid collections from too much arm activity. My boys used to kick sometimes and that would be very dangerous after breast augmentation. Tummy tucks involving muscle tightening are at risk for suture s tearing for 6 weeks so you will need to be very careful when lifting toddlers. My concern is for the incision to open or for your scars to be wider than necessary. The key with a mommy makeover is timing. That should be when you are in greathelath, have healthy lifestyle, your weight has returned to what you want and when you have the help you need to heal properly.

the two peaks in healing are 3 and 6 weeks.  most doctors advocate 6 weeks before complete activity

2-3 weeks for light lifting  (less than 15-20 lbs)

Good luck on your surgery. In order for the muscle to heal right, you need to give it six weeks before trying to lift your twins.  I allow my patients to have their children placed by someonelse on their lap after two weeks, so you can hold them that way. 

You should be just fine with the help that you have at home during that time. Listen very carefully to your plastic surgeon  and all directions.  The second week will stll be difficult so go slow.

Hi there-

The good news is that by the time of your planned surgery, your children should be mobile, and able to come to you when they want attention.

It is very important that you do not lift or carry anything of significant weight (more than 5 lbs or so) for at least 6 weeks after your surgery- but if your children are able to come to you and climb in your lap (even if it requires a bit of assistance), you should be able to get through this 6 week period without them (or you) feeling like you neglected your Mommy duties.

Good luck with your transformation! 

Twin two year olds!!!!! And a Tummy Tuck!!!! I would feel better if you had help from your mom for 2 weeks! For my patients, no straining the tummy for 6 weeks. Holding is OK, and even carrying can be (have the kids stand up on the couch first before you pick them up, then pull them close) but go easy on the abs for 6 weeks…Those stitches that help tighten your tummy need time to heal and you really don’t want to break them!!!

The limiting factor for you lifting your kids will be the tummy tuck surgery. It is great that you will have help for about a week. At a week, you will be able to start caring for your kids again but we do recommend avoiding lifting, pulling, or pushing anything over 10lbs for the first 4-6 weeks. Good Luck!