The healing time should be uneventful to get optimum results. As tummy tuck recovery varies from person to person and, there is no standard answer for how much time you need to avoid driving after tummy tuck surgery. Usually, you have to wait a minimum of 2-3 weeks after surgery to start driving again.
Driving & Returning to Work
In general, you should not drive until you've been off of your prescription pain medication for at least 24 hours and can safely operate a vehicle in traffic. You may be able to drive and return to a desk job as early as two weeks after a tummy tuck.
Activity: Patients usually resume exercise during week 3 or 4 after a tummy tuck, once they receive approval from their surgeon. It is important to return to activity gradually. Listen to your body; if you are tired, it is important to rest.
Flying After Tummy Tuck and Lipo - In general I do not recommend that patients fly for at least a month after any type of significant cosmetic surgery until they are completely healed. You will increase your chance for having an embolism from prolonged flights, if you are not completely recovered.
The reason why you can't sleep on your side after a tummy tuck is that it creates too much tension in the surgical area and can be painful. Sleeping on your side after 3 or 5 weeks after the tummy tuck is even better. In addition to sleeping in the right position, it is also important to ensure a comfortable recovery.
After a full tummy tuck, you'll typically be advised to sleep in an elevated position for at least two weeks and possibly up to four to six weeks.
Recovery One Week After Tummy Tuck
It's common to feel significant relief one week after a tummy tuck, as you will be able to walk in a more upright position, which places less strain on the back.
You should avoid any stretching of the abdominal area as it may separate the scar or abdominal muscles if they were operated on, hence, only walking is recommended. Week 1 – 2: walk at least 5 minutes every hour. Week 2 – 4: Walk at least 20 minutes per day.
The first three to five days are the most difficult period of tummy tuck recovery. You will spend much of this time reclining – often even sleeping in a recliner. During this first week when the pain is most severe, Dr. Slack will prescribe a combination of narcotics and muscle relaxers.
It is not uncommon, as an example, for it to take up to six weeks for muscle spasms in the abdomen to ease and nerves to recover. After a tummy tuck procedure, nerves recover from the outside in towards your belly button and some, typically under the belly button, never recover at all.
Can I do squats after a tummy tuck? You can do squats four to eight weeks after the surgery along with any other lower body exercises.
Swelling 3 Weeks after Tummy Tuck
As with any other surgical procedure, swelling after tummy tuck is typical to occur in the lower abdominal area. Three weeks after surgery, most patients feel very swollen and even experience hardness around the belly button.
You'll need to get up and walk every day to regain your normal movement. Between walks, move your feet and legs often. A tummy tuck leaves a long scar that will fade with time. You also may have a small scar around your belly button.
Swelling is a normal part of tummy tuck recovery, and while most of it resolves within the first 2 months, some residual swelling can last for 6 months to a year.
Lying flat stretches out the abdomen while sleeping on your side allows you to bend your knees and avoid abdominal stretching. Most patients can lie flat again after roughly six weeks if their healing is going well.
Abdominoplasty (Tummy Tuck)
The tummy tuck, medically known as abdominoplasty, requires approximately two weeks off work for full recovery. Most people can work at a computer after about four to five days, but plastic surgeons usually recommend two weeks to avoid any unnecessary stress on the body.
The first 4 weeks after your tummy tuck should be reserved for healing your body from surgery. Don't engage in any intense physical activity during this time. Stick to shuffling around right after surgery and eventually walking normally.
You can massage the scars in the shower, with soap and water, and then again with moisturizing cream after you have showered. We suggest scar massage many times throughout the day for 5-10 minutes each session. It is important to strictly follow your post-operative tummy tuck instructions.
If you have a “mini tummy tuck” with a smaller incision, you'll likely need between one and three weeks of elevated sleeping. On the other hand, full-tummy tuck patients require about four weeks, with six weeks of limiting any strenuous exercise or lifting.
The compression garment must be worn 24/7 even when you sleep, you will be only allowed to take it off when you shower. It is recommended to have two garments, so you can have one for change. . Invest in a good quality garment as this influences the outcome of the surgery.
That can vary from patient to patient. If you've had a relatively minor plastic surgery, you can resume drinking after a few weeks. For more involved cosmetic procedures like a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), you may need to avoid alcohol for several weeks.
Tummy tuck patients may also experience a tight feeling in their belly because the skin has been cut and put back together. More so, muscle tightening during the surgery can lead to a hardened tissue sensation during recovery.
Week four post-op is generally the halfway mark for many patients. By week four, you can begin exercising lightly, return to your normal diet, and drink alcohol again in moderation. At this point, you should also be able to see some of the results of your tummy tuck.
It's not uncommon for people who have a tummy tuck to have a smaller appetite for the first three to six months following their surgery. The tightening of skin and muscles in your abdomen may cause your stomach to feel constricted, encouraging you to eat less.
Whether you're contemplating a Mommy Makeover package or just want to undergo a tummy tuck, you'll be relieved to know that any pain from this cosmetic procedure is far less than that experienced after a C-section. *Individual Results May Vary.