
Tips for a Faster Tummy Tuck Recovery
- 1. Eat a Healthy Diet Including Healing Foods ...
- 2. Focus on Hydration ...
- 3. Get Plenty of Sleep in The Right Position ...
- 4. Wear Your Compression Garment as Directed ...
- 5. Have Someone Commit to Helping You ...
- 6. Move Around Slowly ...
- 7. Take Your Pain Medication as Prescribed ...
- 8. Be Patient and Kind to Yourself ...
- Take pain medication as directed.
- Wear a compression garment.
- Use ice packs to minimize pain and swelling.
- Limit jerky and quick movements.
- Move around the house to keep your circulation going. ...
- Drink lots of water.
- Get adequate bed rest.
- Don't stay in one position too long.
How to heal faster after tummy tuck?
Hacks for Faster Recovery After Tummy Tuck
- Cane or Walker. After a tummy tuck, you will feel tension on your horizontal closure. ...
- Spanks and Maxi Pads. After a tummy tuck, you have to wear squeem or spank (compression shorts). ...
- Manage Nausea. Every patient of a tummy tuck may handle anesthesia and surgery differently. ...
- Compression Stockings. ...
- Shower after a Tummy Tuck. ...
What helps with swelling after tummy tuck?
Tips for Reducing Tummy Tuck Swelling
- Elevate your legs. The more time you can spend lying down with your legs elevated, the easier it will be to reduce the swelling. ...
- Find out about compression garments. Placing slight pressure on the abdominal area can also help reduce swelling, so speak to your surgeon about a compression garment.
- Make sure your drains are working. ...
- Watch what you eat. ...
Why is my stomach so hard after a tummy tuck?
Your lower abdomen will also appear bloated for a time, mainly because of the pain medication that you will be taking during your recovery, something that tends to slow down your digestive processes.
How long to recover from full tummy tuck?
Tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is a major surgical procedure. As a result, you can expect a considerable recovery time following tummy tuck as compared to other, less invasive plastic surgery procedures. On average, full recovery takes about one to three weeks.

How long does it take to heal internally from a tummy tuck?
Full recovery can be expected with eight weeks, but results may take a bit longer to be realized. Swelling and bruising typically subside within this time frame, but full slimming of the midline can take a few additional months.
How long does it take for muscle repair to heal after tummy tuck?
This is a significant change in the muscle structure of the abdominal area. The body requires six to eight weeks to adapt, heal, and set the changes in a permanent, stable fixture.
How long does the feeling of tightness last after a tummy tuck?
In regard to a tummy tuck, abdominal tightness is the result of nerve damage. But, as you heal, this sensation will dissipate. Patients can expect to feel abdominal tightness for 6 – 12 weeks. In some cases, it can take up to a year to regain normal nerve function.
How often should I massage my stomach after tummy tuck?
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. We encourage you to walk around immediately in the post- operative period.
When can I lay on my side after tummy tuck?
Surgeons often recommend sleeping on your back while recovering from a tummy tuck, but you may be able to sleep on your side a few weeks after surgery.
How long should you walk bent over after tummy tuck?
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.
Can you damage a tummy tuck?
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.
How long does it take for skin to reattach after tummy tuck?
For the majority of patients, the feeling of tight skin after tummy tuck resolves within 6 –12 weeks after surgery. In some cases, it may take longer to regain normal sensations as the nerves reestablish their connections and the tissues continue to heal and settle.
Can you rip muscle repair after tummy tuck?
Answer: Muscle repair loosening after tummy tuck is uncommon Yes, the muscle tightening suture can come loose after tummy tuck, but this is not common. When the muscle tightening is performed, it takes 6 weeks to heal and have 90% of its strength. Some surgeons even use dissolvable sutures for the repair.
Can you mess up muscle repair after tummy tuck?
In general, it would take a significant amount of pressure to “tear" the muscle repair after tummy tuck surgery. This event would likely be associated with significant discomfort. A change in your physical examination, such as increased swelling, bleeding, a new onset "bulge" would also be likely.
When is muscle repair fully healed?
Theoretically complete healing takes six months to one year. It would be unusual (though not impossible) to rip the muscle repair by coughing or vomiting. I hope this helps.
How do I know if my muscle repair failed?
Answer: Muscle Repair Failure At three months time your surgeon should be able to tell you if you have swelling there still, or is it just fat or failure of the repair. This is pretty much done by physical exam.
Focus on Your Diet
Focus on protein-rich lean meats as well as healthy fats, which will help your skin recover. Be sure to consume lots of leafy greens for their nutrients, and also focus on fiber, as constipation is common after surgery.
Get Moving
While walking is a key part of healing quicker after a tummy tuck, pushing your limits could result in injuries that delay healing. Start with short distances and steadily increase how far you walk each day. If you are planning your surgery in the winter, consider investing in a treadmill.
Wear Compression Garments
Tummy tucks cause quite a bit of swelling, so compression garments are needed to keep this to a minimum. Doing so can also help you heal quicker after your tummy tuck. Dr. Castellano will recommend specific garments that will suit you best at your consultation .
1. Eat a Healthy Diet Including Healing Foods
What you eat during your recovery period will have a direct impact on your body’s ability to heal. Protein-rich foods like salmon and chicken can keep your energy levels high and help aid your body in the healing process.
2. Focus on Hydration
One of the most important things you can do following an abdominoplasty is to make sure you are drinking a lot of water. Doctors recommend drinking eight 8 oz. glasses of water a day during recovery.
3. Get Plenty of Sleep in The Right Position
Getting plenty of rest is imperative to speeding up your tummy tuck recovery. When you are sleeping your body’s ability to heal is accelerated. Be sure to allow yourself the time to rest as often as possible.
4. Wear Your Compression Garment as Directed
Following your tummy tuck, your surgeon will send you home with a “belly binder.” This garment is an essential part of your recovery. Wearing your compression belt will control swelling, support your abdominal wall, and aide in the healing of your abdominal scars.
5. Have Someone Commit to Helping You
For the first 24-48 hours following your tummy tuck you won’t even be able to move around unassisted or get into and out of bed on your own. Having a dedicated support system is vital to follow your doctor’s orders and properly care for yourself immediately following your surgery.
6. Move Around Slowly
You must make sure you are not making any sudden, jerky movements that can disturb your abdominal muscles or your incision site. However, getting up and walking around the house can help you heal faster after a tummy tuck.
7. Take Your Pain Medication as Prescribed
For at least the first 48 hours, you will be prescribed prescription pain medication. Taking this medication as prescribed and not when you are experiencing high pain levels can help your body to heal faster overall.
What to take after tummy tuck?
After your tummy tuck, Dr. Vu may prescribe you medications, including painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, to reduce swelling. Make sure you take these medications exactly as prescribed.
How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck?
While everyone’s recovery timeline is unique due to their physique, any pre-existing medical conditions they may have, and their specific surgical plan, it usually takes about 6 weeks to fully recover from a tummy tuck, also called abdominoplasty.
What to do after abdominoplasty?
But after abdominoplasty, you’ll need to avoid strenuous exercise, including cardio, weightlifting, and stretching the surgical site. In the meantime, you can take short walks around your home or neighborhood to keep in shape.
Can you quit smoking after abdominoplasty?
Dr. Vu’s Huntington Beach abdominoplasty patients are required to quit all tobacco products. It would be best if you resisted the urge to start again after your surgery. For the best and fastest recovery possible, you need proper blood flow to your surgical site. Nicotine products constrict blood vessels and decrease blood flow, making it harder for your body to heal from surgery.
Can you lift heavy things after a tummy tuck?
Don’t Lift Anything Heavy, Including Small Children. We know it can be tempting to pick up that latest package from Amazon Prime or to hold your child and cuddle. But after a tummy tuck, it just isn’t safe to lift or carry heavy objects. Doing so may delay your recovery time, as well as add other complications.
Can you still have food after abdominoplasty?
Just because you’ve had abdominoplasty doesn’t mean that life doesn’t go on. You still have food to cook, a house to clean, and maybe even children to take care of. Now’s the time to call in your village. Whether you can have family or friends stay with you and help with household chores and childcare, or you hire some help, the more extra hands on board, the better.
Do you have to wear compression after tummy tuck?
Most of Dr. Vu’s Huntington Beach tummy tuck patients will be sent home wearing a compression garment after their surgeries. You’ll want to wear this garment as much and as often as Dr. Vu prescribes. Doing so helps reduce swelling, which in turn helps speed up your recovery time.
What is a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck is intensive produce for body contouring. You can create a toned and tight look in the midsection. Several women, after multiple pregnancies, get a tummy tuck to restore their beautiful figure.
Why do you need abdominal binder?
Abdominal binders are necessary to speed up a recovery procedure after a tummy tuck. Proper management and placement of abdominal binder may be a challenge for low incisions of a tummy tuck. In this situation, the binder may sit partly lies on your thighs.
Is a tummy tuck good for weight loss?
Nowadays, a tummy tuck is famous among weight loss patients who want to remove extra skin around their midsection. Keep it in mind that this procedure needs time and money, so you must choose someone reliable Tummy Tuck Mississauga for this procedure. Recovery after tummy tuck can be a real challenge.
Can a tummy tuck cause nausea?
Manage Nausea. Every patient of a tummy tuck may handle anesthesia and surgery differently. Some patients don’t experience na usea after surgery. The combination of excellent surgical techniques and good anesthesia decrease narcotic use. If you are experiencing nausea, ask your doctor to recommend anti-nausea medicines.
Can you walk in a bending position after a tummy tuck?
Tightening of your abdominal muscles also makes you uncomfortable in an upright position. For this reason, you have to walk in a slight bending position at the waist during your first week after a tummy tuck. This posture can cause a temporary back strain. You can use a cane or walker for your assistance.
Do compression stockings help with tummy tuck?
Some surgeons recommend their patients to wear special compression stockings (thigh high) during their tummy tuck. Decreasing the probability of blood clots is necessary. You may not feel comfortable in compression stockings after surgery, but these things can reduce your swellings of legs.
Can you recover from a tummy tuck?
Recovery after tummy tuck can be a real challenge. You have to follow special precautions to speed up the recovery procedure. Here are some hacks for faster recovery after your tummy tuck.
Answer: Delayed healing after abdominoplasty
Hi and welcome to our forum! I am sorry that you have experienced a complication of the abdominoplasty procedure. During the procedure, the abdominal skin and soft tissues are separated from the underlying musculature from the ribs to the pubic area.
Answer: Keep wound clean and dry
Hello paulamichelle92 Thank you for your question. It looks to be healing well although there are some small openings where the scabs may have fallen off prematurely. Just keep the openings clean and dry at all times. Do not apply any creams or ointments. They will eventually close-up on their own although it may take some time.
Answer: Healing
It is important that you keep in contact with your surgeon to discuss your recovery and concerns. Be sure to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and avoid all nicotine. These small wound openings can occur and typically heal well with proper home wound care and by closely following your surgeons instructions.
Answer: Speed Healing after a Tummy Tuck
Hi, setting up successful healing following a tummy tuck begins before surgery. It is hard to tell based upon the photos the extent of the delayed healing area. Keep your follow up appointment to allow for an exam with your plastic surgeon. Continue with your wound care, avoid nicotine exposure and follow the instructions that have been given.
What is the recovery of a tummy tuck?
If you’re considering having a tummy tuck or have one planned, it’s important to consider what the recovery will involve. Your recuperation will depend on several factors, including your age, health, and body weight. It will also depend on the type of tummy tuck you have.
How long should I wear a binder after a tummy tuck?
While the recovery period is usually shorter for a mini-tummy tuck, you’ll still need to avoid strenuous activity for at least six weeks. This includes any vigorous exercise or heavy lifting.
How long does it take for a tummy to swell after a tummy splin?
You can take pain medication to control the pain you are likely to experience. You may experience swelling for up to three months after the surgery. Your tummy may feel like it’s being pulled when you try to stand up straight.
How do you know if you have a bruise on your tummy?
Your tummy may feel like it’s being pulled when you try to stand up straight. You may feel numbness in your tummy for months or even years. It’s normal to have bruises in your abdominal area. You may have fluid-filled swelling above the scar, but this will go away.
How long does it take to get back to normal after a stroke?
It’ll be several weeks before you are fully back to normal. You won’t be able to drive for a few weeks. You’ll also have to limit strenuous exercise and demanding physical activity for four to six weeks. Your doctor can help you decide what activities you can perform and how long you’ll need to take off work.
How long do you have to stay in the hospital after a syringe?
You may only need to stay in the hospital for a few hours after the surgery, or your surgeon may have you stay for one night or longer. And once you leave the hospital, the real recovery begins. Here’s what you need to know.
How long after surgery can you shower?
You can shower 48 hours after you remove your drainage tubes. You may want to take a sponge bath until you can shower.
What is a tummy tuck?
The tummy tuck procedure is one of the more intensive body contouring procedures, but it can transform your midsection to create a tight and toned look . Many women who have undergone multiple pregnancies get a tummy tuck in St. Louis to restore their pre-pregnancy figure, but we also perform this type of surgery on weight loss patients ...
What to eat after body contouring?
Eat protein-rich foods like salmon and chicken, and make sure to add some healthy fat to your diet so that your skin can recover and heal properly.
Why do you need to drink water after a syringe?
You need to drink plenty of water before and after your procedure to help your body flush out toxins and also reduce the risk of complications. Get into a routine of drinking plenty of water throughout the day to prevent dehydration and support your recovery.
What to do after a tummy tuck?
After your tummy tuck, you’re going to want to get up, get out and get moving. But you might want to hold off on any kind of intense activity until you fully understand the physical restrictions after a tummy tuck.
How long does it take to recover from a tummy tuck?
6-8 Weeks After Tummy Tuck Surgery. Your physical restrictions after a tummy tuck start to relax after about 6 weeks. This is the time when, with the permission of Dr. Martin, you can begin to resume most normal exercise, outside of exercises aimed directly at your midsection.
How long after a syringe surgery can you walk?
Stick to shuffling around right after surgery and eventually walking normally. After 4 weeks , you can discuss returning to light physical activity — like brisk walking or light cycling — with Dr. Martin.
Can you walk straight after a tummy tuck?
Walking as early as the first day after your tummy tuck surgery could help prevent the formation of blood clots, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, you may find it difficult to stand straight up after surgery due to your incision.
