Many people are concerned about exercising post the tummy surgery but nobody talks about working out before getting abdominoplasty. It is best to strengthen your core and work on toning your ab muscles a few months before the surgery. It is important to have a good muscle tonus.
Exercise to improve loose or lax tummy may not help that much but it surely will help you make your abdominal muscles stronger. Once you do exercises to make your abdominal muscles taut and strong, the muscle repair done in the abdominoplasty procedure is definitely better.
The Day Before Your Tummy Tuck
Drink plenty of fluids containing electrolytes (Gatorade, Smartwater, etc.) during the day. The evening before your surgery eat a high protein and low fat dinner such as a grilled chicken salad. Set out a few comfortable outfits to wear over the next several days.
At around 7-10 weeks after your tummy tuck procedure, you should be cleared to ease into your normal exercise routine. You can begin doing crunches, sit ups, and planks, as long as you progressively increase your repetitions. We recommend focusing on performing these exercises with impeccable form.
The worst days after your tummy tuck will be the first one to three days. You may experience some discomfort, bloating, pressure, and swelling, but these symptoms are normal and will resolve themselves.
How long do you walk hunched over after a tummy tuck? You will need to walk hunched over or bent at the waist for about a week. This helps prevent additional pressure on your incision lines.
Bed rest is recommended for the first 2 days after your tummy tuck procedure. On day 3, activity is encouraged but should be limited.
It is important that you be close to your desired weight for six to twelve months before undergoing a tummy tuck. Most surgeons will recommend patients be between 10-15 pounds from their goal weight. This is important as gaining or losing additional weight can undo the contoured shape achieved through your surgery.
During a tummy tuck, fatty tissue deep within your skin in the abdominal area might get damaged or die. Smoking increases the risk of tissue damage. Depending on the size of the area, tissue might heal on its own or require a surgical touch-up procedure.
The best sleeping position after tummy tuck surgery is on your back with your upper body elevated to create a slight bend or angle. Using pillows or sleeping in a recliner is ideal to achieve this position.
Most patients return home the same day as their tummy tuck procedure, usually a couple of hours after surgery. Patients are groggy and tired after the procedure and are unable to drive themselves. Most patients arrange for a family member or friend to pick them up after surgery.
The skin on your stomach will be mostly numb for several weeks to months. Feeling will return slowly. It's normal to feel tired while you are healing. It can take 5 to 6 weeks for your energy to return.
That's why it is important to consider getting into good shape pre-surgery as well. Cardiovascular fitness and weight or resistance training, complemented by flexibility and balance exercises, strengthens the heart and body, and also aids in post-surgical recovery.
A properly performed tummy tuck can reduce your waist size and help you feel confident about your curves again. Some patients may lose many inches off their waist, while others will see more subtle results. It all depends on how much tissue can be removed safely.
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.
With a full tuck, you will lose more weight than you would with a mini tuck because you probably have more excess skin and fat to be removed.
A tummy tuck can result in a weight loss of approximately four pounds. If you opt for a mini truck, you can expect to lose around three pounds of excess skin and fat. If you opt for an extended tuck, you can expect to lose around five pounds of excess skin and fat.
Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose skin before the procedure, for example, you could go down 4 more pants sizes.
During body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, fat cells are eliminated from the body and cannot return. Because of this, patients may gain weight in other places like the buttocks, legs, arms, and breasts.
Generally, toilets are fairly low to the ground and we don't realize this until some part of our legs, pelvis or core is sore. After a tummy tuck, getting low enough to sit down on the toilet can be difficult and uncomfortable. A toilet seat booster may just be your new best friend.
You may shower 48 hours after surgery, but do not soak in a bathtub, hot tub, or pool. Soaking your wounds in water can expose them to bacteria and cause infection. You should not take baths for at least two weeks after surgery.
How soon can you walk after a tummy tuck? You absolutely can walk up and downstairs immediately after surgery. Once again use common sense. If you need someone to help you on the stairs then do so.