Will I be able to travel 2 1/2 weeks after mini tummy tuck?

Dear Susan54436,
every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

You should be fine to travel after 2.5 weeks, however you should avoid any heavy lifting for 6 weeks. You should check with your board certified plastic surgeon who knows you best. Good luck.

Hello and thank you for your question. Recovery from a mommy makeover is likely around 7-10 days.  Most patients can go back to work at 2 weeks. BY 2.5 weeks you should be able to travel. I would advise my patients to avoid lifting for 6 weeks or so post op. You should discuss all these concerns with your plastic surgeon. Best,

For patients undergoing a "mini tummy tuck" without muscle repair, recovery is generally fairly quick. I think you'll be fine traveling after 2 1/2 weeks. Best of luck to you!

Best answer will be obtained from the PS who will be performing your mini-TT and scar revision. Every surgeon has different post op care instructions. I usually tell my patients they can go back to work in 2 weeks but should wait 6 weeks before doing any strenuous exercise. Short distance driving is allowed after the anesthesia has worn off and they are no longer taking pain relievers.  Driving five hours to Dallas 2.5 weeks after your surgery is likely to be mentally and physically taxing.  Without knowing your support team, I would recommend postponing your surgery until after your husband has recovered from his back surgery.Kenneth Hughes, MD, ABPS Board Certified Plastic SurgeryLos Angeles, CA

I encourage you to discuss this with your surgeon as she/he is most familiar with the details of your procedure and health history. While you may be able to physically drive your husband to his surgery, you will likely need someone else to be his caregiver as you both then will be recovering from surgery.

You should be able to travel by car after 2.5 weeks. However, you may not be able to do much lifting should your husband need that help. If your husband is having a major back surgery, you might want to consider postponing your procedure until after his recovery.

Thank you or your question. You should be fine to travel 2.5 weeks after your surgery without any problem. Best of luck

Dear Susan,
Hello and thank you for your excellent question. In my practice, mini tummy tuck patients return to work after 3-4 days. However, you need to check directly with your plastic surgeon, as techniques vary. You may want to look into a body contouring procedure that combines liposuction with laser, radiofrequency (RF), and acoustic therapy to produce the best balance of fat reduction and skin tightening and smoothing for your body type and anatomy. We use a proprietary liposuction technique, combined with Emsculpt to help each patient reach his or her desired result. First off, all devices and instruments used are FDA-approved. We start your treatment with Emsculpt to help strengthen your abdominal muscles, augment your buttocks, and reduce any diastasis or abdominal muscle laxity that you may have. This is particularly important for patients who want convert a “round” abdomen to a “flat” abdomen. Emsculpt has been proven to be able to do this based on peer-reviewed research. We then use Smart / Laser Liposuction or VASER (ultrasound) to reduce dense, fibrous fat, and stimulate collagen formation; Radiofrequency-based skin tightening to maximize skin contraction; and Ultrasound, RF, or subcision (Z Wave, Venus, Cellfina) to treat cellulite, maximize fat reduction, and smooth out any irregularities postop. These procedures are usually performed in the office, with only local anesthesia. Patients go home the same day as surgery, do not need any narcotics postop for pain control, and can return to light exercise and work two days after their procedure. In my practice, we select the appropriate treatment for each patient based on their skin quality, amount of fat and surgical goals. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. Preoperative visualization with Crisalix can simulate what your body will look like after surgery and can help you make your decision. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. Good luck!

Best,

Jon Ver Halen, MD FACS