When can I start weight lifting after a tummy tuck? It is best to avoid weight lifting for at least 12 weeks after the tummy tuck. Otherwise, it can put pressure on your stitches and muscles.
Once you are comfortable with light cardiovascular activity, most patients can begin performing light weight lifting activities about 3 weeks after a tummy tuck procedure. These should be exercises that strengthen your arms, chest, shoulders, and legs – in addition to light cardio activities.
Thank you for your question! For my patients having a tummy tuck, I recommend that they do not lift over 10 lbs for the first 6 weeks post surgery.
One of the things to avoid in the first week after your tummy tuck is lifting anything over 10 pounds. Not only will this protect your incision, but it will protect your body as a whole. Remember, your abdomen is a major part of your body and provides structure and strength to every area.
You should bear in mind that you won't be able to lift yourself into a completely upright position immediately after one week. Rather, straightening after tummy tuck is a slow and gradual process, with most patients recovering their straightened posture in 2-3 weeks.
Most patients get the green light to lift again 3 to 4 weeks after breast surgery and 5 to 6 weeks after a tummy tuck.
It is best to avoid weight lifting for at least 12 weeks after the tummy tuck. Otherwise, it can put pressure on your stitches and muscles.
Tummy tuck results are considered permanent in that the skin and fat cells that Dr. Greenwald removes during the procedure cannot grow back. Likewise, any internal sutures that he places to repair stomach muscles are designed to remain in place indefinitely.
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.
I tell my patients they can begin to turn onto their side a little bit at three weeks just to relieve the strain on their back. If this is comfortable and they have no trouble with it, then they can gradually do a little more and can finally sleep fully on their side at four to six weeks.
Usually after tummy tuck you are able to get back into normal clothes at 3 weeks. You will still be swollen it takes 6-9 months for it to completely subside. Use a compression garment to help with the swelling.
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.
Having said this, most women after a tummy tuck will go down a size or two. Some will go down even more! However, some patients will not have a change of size, and rarely, some will actually wear a larger size. Most women will go down a size or two after an abdominoplasty and be very happy with their new appearance.
Tissue damage.
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.
Answer: Tummy tuck and recovery
Every patient heals a bit differently. I usually do not want my patients to do any exertional activity for about 3-4 weeks minimum.
Generally, it takes two to three months to see results, depending on the tummy tuck technique that was performed, the extent of skin laxity, and the patient's general state of health.
Avoid abdominal exercises and strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 6 to 8 weeks. For 6 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain.
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.
Because the fat layer is not addressed, some patients can end up having a boxy look after the tummy tuck. This means that the tummy is flat and firm, but they don't have any curves, and they look more or less like a box.
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.
Tummy tucks flatten the patient's stomach but they don't necessarily give them an hourglass silhouette. To achieve that, patients also need targeted liposuction.
A common sign of an undesirable tummy tuck is poor repositioning of the belly button. If you see that your navel is too high or too low, it might be that it's been misshapen, while pulling and tightening of the skin has distorted the original shape and position.
A tummy tuck doesn't include a pubic lift because it focuses on contouring the belly region, tightening the skin and muscles in your midsection. In some cases, the general trimming and contouring of your midsection can improve your pubic region's general appearance, though that isn't intentional.
In the first week after tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Patronella recommends patients take short walks of 10 minutes, gradually increasing this to one mile, twice daily by days 10 to 14 days after the procedure.