This blog provides a detailed tummy tuck recovery timeline, including healing milestones, tips, and information on preparing for recovery.
The Truth About Tummy Tuck Recovery
Abdominoplasty, or tummy tucks, can provide some transformational results. They help patients reveal youthful, toned contours after weight loss or pregnancy and even offer functional improvement to conditions such as diastasis recti.
During a tummy tuck, your surgeon will surgically tighten loose or separated abdominal muscles, tighten underlying tissues, and redrape the skin before trimming the excess, eliminating sagging, loose skin and tissue that detracts from your appearance.
These benefits are enormous, but it’s equally important to understand the recovery process of a tummy tuck. Because you’re dealing with the repair of abdominal muscles—which help you sit, stand up, and stand straight, among other things—recovery is something to take seriously. Below, we’ll give you an honest recovery timeline so you can be prepared for this fantastic procedure.
Tummy Tuck Recovery Timeline
Day Zero: On the day of surgery, you’ll be groggy, bandaged, and placed in a surgical garment. This garment protects the surgical site, reduces swelling, and helps your skin retract. You will need a friend to take you home and potentially get you situated; most patients will sleep once they get home.
Week One: During your first week of recovery, you’ll realize that your mobility is quite limited—you won’t be able to stand straight yet because your abdominal muscles have been surgically mended. Some patients find it helpful to use a walker or cane, just until they are strong enough to get around on their own. Additionally, you’ll need to sleep at a slight incline: pillows can help, or some patients opt to sleep in a recliner chair.
Week one is peak discomfort—don’t lose hope! Symptoms greatly improve in week two and beyond.
It’s also important to move your body a bit, as this increases blood circulation and reduces the risk of blood clots.
Week One Healing Milestones:
- Surgical drains are removed at your check-up
- You can take a shower after 48 hours
Week Two: As mentioned, those annoying tummy tuck recovery issues begin to improve in week two, including an increase in mobility! One key tip: keep walking and maintaining a good level of blood circulation, as this helps speed up healing.
It’s crucial to find a balance between rest and movement, as they are both essential for a successful recovery; ask your surgeon when and how to incorporate more activities.
Week Two Healing Milestones:
- Patients can stand up straight and sleep flat
- Many patients can return to work after week two (depending on their job)
- May start lymphatic drainage massages
Week Three: There’s usually some crossover between weeks two and three in tummy tuck recovery since everyone heals a little differently. As you increase regular activity, your surgeon will clear you for increased exercises.
Your swelling and bruising should be significantly improved by the end of week three. This is the point at which many patients can start to see the final results of their tummy tucks (and start to get excited about showing them off).
Week Three Healing Milestones:
- Patients can resume low-impact exercises
- Switch to Stage 2 compression garments
- Most patients can sleep on their side (with surgeon’s approval)
Month Two: Between weeks four and six, recovery becomes much more manageable—you’ll feel totally like yourself again, with increased energy and no residual discomfort. You’ll need to continue to protect your surgical site and take precautions, but for the most part, many patients are back to normal.
Month Two Healing Milestones:
- Resume strenuous exercise (with surgeon’s approval)
- 80% of swelling fades, revealing more contours
When can I remove my compression garment?
This varies, but most of the time, your surgeon will require you to wear your second-stage compression garment for about six to eight weeks. Keep in mind that your compression garment is responsible for improving your contours, tightening the skin, and keeping swelling down—it’s a super important part of recovery, so try not to cheat!
Months Three to Six: At this point, you’re in the final stages of recovery. You can work out as you like (including core exercises), your swelling is gone, and you’re starting to see the final contours. Congratulations! You still have to be careful, and surprisingly, your results are going to continue to improve (up to a year post-op), but you’re over the worst of recovery and can start enjoying your results.
Months Three to Six Healing Milestones:
- See improved contours
- Ready to sleep on your stomach (with surgeon’s approval)
How to Prepare for Tummy Tuck Recovery
We want to be clear: tummy tuck recovery is not impossible! But you do have to be diligent in caring for yourself to ensure the best possible results. There are a few things you can do to prepare yourself and your house for your tummy tuck.
- Stock up on healthy food, meal prep, or plan to have a family member cook for you. One of the most important aspects of an effective recovery is eating nutritious, whole foods—takeout won’t cut it!
- Prepare your space. If you don’t have enough on hand, you may need to purchase body pillows, cushions, and comfortable clothes. As mentioned, sleeping can be a challenge in the early days, so prepare as best you can. Additionally, you might have a hard time changing clothes at first, so baggy clothing can help.
- Find child or pet care. You may need extra help getting around, let alone caring for pets or little ones. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, especially in the early stages of recovery.
- Schedule surgery around your work schedule. Some industries have slower seasons than others—use that to your advantage! You’ll likely need two weeks off from work, so plan accordingly.
Want to Learn More About Tummy Tucks in Washington, D.C.?
Center for Plastic Surgery provides safe, reliable, and stunning tummy tuck results to patients from the D.C. Metro Area, Tysons Corner, and Chevy Chase. To learn more about how our expert surgeons and recovery staff can make this process a breeze, call to schedule a consultation at one of our two offices.
Tysons Corner (703) 560-2850 Chevy Chase (301) 652-7700