After Mommy Makeover - When Can I Resume my Intense Workouts?

The Mommy Makeover is a combination of procedures to bring a woman’s body back to the way she looked prior to pregnancy. Most commonly some variation of a #TummyTuck and #BreastSurgery are performed. Additional procedures can include liposuction, umbilical hernia repair.  The most common #breastprocedures include #mastopexy or #breastlift, #breastaugmentation, or #breastreduction.    

Healing after a  #tummytuck will require time. Some patients are out of bed and walking the night of surgery and every hour while awake. I allow my patients to return to work at one to two weeks with 14 days preferred.  However, no lifting or straining.  At three weeks, increased level of activity and full with no restrictions, at 6 weeks. #MummyTummy is a term given to modified tummy tucks which can use liposuction and skin tightening with radiofrequency such Vanquish, Vela3, thermage, thermiRF and others.  The actual fat contouring can be done non-surgically as well with #UltraShape or Cool-Sculpting.As I advise my patients, if your work keeps you sedentary, you may return whenever you feel up to it. If your work is strenuous, wait until your work activity does not cause any superficial pain. Some employers will modify a person’s job duties so they can back sooner, but without physical activity. Our office can provide our patients with a note stating they are not to engage in strenuous activity for a specified period of time. The note will not disclose what procedure they have underwent. Therefore, you may have to request a similar note from your surgeon if you are not independently employed. I recommend avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous #activity for six weeks following your surgery. With that said, it may help you plan your return to work accordingly.

As for heavy lifting and other #strenuous #activities, it should be avoided for until you have clearance from your surgeon. You may, however, do normal activities at any time if they cause no pain or #discomfort. Let your body tell you what you can or cannot do. Aerobic exercise will raise your blood pressure, which could cause late bleeding and harm your result. Once you begin exercising again, start gently and let your body tell you what it can tolerate. Don’t rush!!  If you have concerns about your healing, or pain that you question to be unusual, it is important to call your plastic surgeon to discuss these further asked to be examined.

Thanks for the question. After 6 weeks your surgery area is totally healed and yes you can do gym and also do other activities.

You need to discuss this with your surgeon who knows you best. For my patients I want them to wait 6 weeks before resuming any type of formal exercise, and then gradually increase as it feels comfortable. Good luck.

It’s vitally important to give your body ample time to heal after surgery, especially before getting back to intense exercise. I generally clear my patients for light cardio week 1-2, but I do mean “light” walks around the block or slowly on the treadmill Plan to take at least 8 weeks away from p90x. At the 8-week mark, it may be safe to slowly resume that again. Start easy and start slowly, and be sure not to push yourself. If something hurts or is uncomfortable, pull back. Now is not the time for “no pain, no gain.” Giving yourself enough time to heal fully can greatly improve your recuperation and the longevity of your results. 

Thanks for the great question! Mommy makeovers typically include an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and some kind of breast procedure (e.g. augmentation, lift, reduction). The abdominoplasty is the rate limiting step of the recovery (breast surgery recovery is much faster than abdominoplasty recovery). I advise my patients to return to work 2 weeks following an abdominoplasty, and allow them to ramp up to full activity after about 5 weeks. p90x should probably wait 6 weeks, but you and your surgeon can decide together to see if you are ready sooner.

Thank you for your question. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals. Depending on the extent of your abdominoplasty and your general physical condition, you may be able to return to non-strenuous work anywhere from one to three weeks after surgery. In many instances, you can resume most of your normal activities, including some form of mild exercise, after a few weeks. You may continue to experience some mild, periodic discomfort and swelling during this time, but such feelings are normal. Best of luck!Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman Estates BarringtonOakbrook Chicago

You should wait for as long as your surgeon recommends. This can be from 6 weeks to 3 months, depending on what your mommy makeover entails. Generally, a tummy tuck requires a longer period of recovery.When you first start working out again, please do so slowly and build up intensity gradually. Your body needs to get used to exercising again and you don't want to compromise your physical state by doing too much too soon.

A mommy makeover is a great procedure to address many of the
changes that occur in a woman’s body after pregnancy, delivering and breast
feeding, but you do have to respect the magnitude of that kind of surgery and
allow enough healing time afterwards if you want to heal without complications
and have a good result.For the first
week you will feel very limited by the pain and stiffness.During that time you want to only be up and
around as needed at home (getting up to the bathroom and for meals only).By the end of that first week most people are
off the pain meds and starting to get a little more limber and usually feel up
to driving, but still tire very easily and need to take frequent naps and
breaks.During the second week you will
probably feel up to going for short walks or maybe doing some light desk work
from home.I usually recommend not
returning to work for at least 2 weeks even with a sedentary job because of the
drained feeling and lack of energy most patients have.After 2 weeks most people can return to full
days at work as long as they have limited lifting and can take occasional
breaks. After 2 weeks I also let people
begin slow walking on a treadmill or a leisurely pace on the elliptical machine
as long as they keep their arms stationary.Lifting is still limited to 10-15 pounds until at least 3-4 weeks out
depending on healing and swelling.From
3 to 6 weeks post-op I let people gradually increase the vigorousness of their
exertion and heaviness of lifting as they feel up to it. Do not expect to feel
up to or be ready for high impact exercise (such as P90x or Insanity) until you
are at least 6 weeks post-op, and then only if everything has gone according to
plan and then still wearing some compression for support while working out (sports
bra, spanks, abdomen binder). Getting too active too soon can lead to some very
serious complications such as bleeding, excess swelling, fluid collection and
even popping stitches and opening up incisions.All of those things can worsen you final result and even endanger your
health.The best advice is to listen
closely to the restrictions your surgeon give you and not try to rush the
healing process… you will get back to your very active lifestyle soon enough
and look fabulous doing it!

You should probably wait at least 6 weeks before you do any of these activities again. However you should ask your surgeon for their advice.

         The mommy makeover
addresses redundant abdominal tissue with weakened muscles, loss of breast
volume, breast sag and localized fat collections of the hips and thighs.
Patients can anticipate limited physical activity for two weeks following this
procedure. During the initial two weeks patients are allowed bathroom and
kitchen privileges. At two weeks, they are allowed to gradually resume normal
activities with the exception of strenuous activities and heavy lifting.
Patients can usually return to work in two weeks if no strenuous activity is
involved. After six to eight weeks patients can resume all their normal
activities including strenuous activities, heavy lifting, P90X workouts, and
insanity workouts.

 

         It’s important to go
slow at first and gradually resume your normal exercise program. Make sure you
listen to your body. If you’re not ready for a particular activity, your body
will let you know.