Can I Start Contracting Stomach Muscles 5 Days Post-Op Tummy Tuck with Lipo?

Question

5 days after tummy tuck. Should I start contracting my stomach muscles ? I have no drains and I'm using compression garment. Thanks

Brent Moelleken, MD · Answer

It is important to let the stomach muscles heal.

	Most tummy tucks have sutures in the midline holding the very important fascial layer.  It is unwise to disrupt the sutures by exercise of any kind.

	Most doctors ask their patients not to exercise their abdominal muscles for six to eight weeks after surgery.  For patients with wound healing issues, that period could be even longer.

	Fluid collections or worse, a disruption of the deep layer requiring surgery to fix, could result.

Mathew C. Mosher, MD · Answer

Aftercare instructions should always be directed to your surgeon and their nursing team as each procedure and each patient is different. In general, you can and will contract your muscles gently this early after a tummy tuck but you must allow for more time to heal before any exercise. If you had your muscle "repaired" as part of the procedure it is advisable to avoid strenuous activity for 6-8 weeks. Too much activity too soon can increase your risk of complications and prolong your recovery. Why would you want to take a chance on compromising your result?

	Dr. Mosher

Darryl J. Blinski, MD · Answer

Seriously, how can any of us respond since we are not your treating surgeon. Give the surgeon a call to check if this is acceptable in his post operative protocol. In mine, it is not, I tell, write my detailed instructions to all my patients. No muscle use for atleaast 10 days.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.

	Since you are very early in the recovery process of having tummy tuck surgery, I would suggest taking it easy for the first week or two and follow the instructions of your surgeon.  The recovery of the tummy tuck surgery is significant and if you start doing too much/ too early, you may cause problems.

	Take it easy and allow your body to heal.

Ronald V. DeMars, MD (Retired) · Answer

It is fine to be up and moving around the house and increasing your activities to the limit of your comfort, but it is way too early to do any specific exercises or muscle contractions of the abdominal muscles. I prefer to have my patients avoid specific core exercises for 8 weeks postop.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS (retired) · Answer

If you had muscle repair, you should treat it like a hernia repair and not strain it for 8 weeks. Mainly though, this is a question for YOUR doctor as they would hate for you to be getting this on the internet!

Can I Start Contracting Stomach Muscles 5 Days Post-Op Tummy Tuck with Lipo?

Answers (6)

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