We recommend that you wait at least 6 weeks before driving. After your surgery, you will have drains in place on your body to collect fluids that are released by the incisions made during surgery. The drains need to be in place for about two days before they are removed and replaced with bandages or surgical tape.
During your recovery period, you may experience some pain and swelling in your abdomen and thighs as well as bruising around the incision sites. It is important that you take it easy after surgery for at least two weeks, avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous exercise until all of the stitches have been removed (about 10 days after surgery).
Read on to learn more. information on How Long After Tummy Tuck Can I Drive, How Long After Tummy Tuck Can I Take A Bath and How Can I Speed The Healing Process
How Long After Tummy Tuck Can I Drive
Following abdominoplasty, there will be some limitations to physical activity. This allows your body to recover appropriately and helps reduce the risk of unwanted consequences such as poor incision healing, infection, and discomfort.
By and large, normal activities can be resumed within a few weeks of tummy tuck surgery. Some things, like more progressive forms of exercise, may need to be avoided for up to eight weeks. During your follow-up visits, Dr. Fiala can address any questions you have about recovery and provide you with individualized guidance to help ensure you are only adding those activities that are safe at each stage of recovery.
Follow-up visits are included in the cost of tummy tuck surgery at Fiala Aesthetics. These visits give us an opportunity to carefully evaluate your level of recovery at each stage and to make personalized recommendations and modifications that help ensure you experience the most rewarding recovery possible.
Driving Restrictions After Abdominoplasty
Most patients are able to drive short distances within two weeks of abdominoplasty. This can, of course, vary from patient to patient, making it important that you only resume specific activities when given the go-ahead by Dr. Fiala. Taking up activities like driving may need to be delayed longer if your surgery was more involved or if multiple procedures were performed, and long-distance driving may need to be avoided for six weeks or longer. All of this will be discussed in greater detail during your time in our care.
During tummy tuck recovery, limitations on more advanced or demanding activities are necessary for proper recovery. However, mild exercise is both encouraged and important for successful healing. As soon as 24 hours after your procedure you can begin to take short walks, gradually increasing their length with each day. Walking helps improve the body’s healing response and can help reduce swelling, discomfort, and issues brought about by inactivity such as constipation. It can also provide a foundation for a healthy lifestyle.
As with mild exercise, eating and drinking appropriately will help with the healing response. Keeping hydrated and choosing foods that are healthful to the body can help improve the recovery experience. Processed foods, foods and drinks high in sugar, and snack foods can activate an inflammation response that works to delay and interfere with incision healing.
Before your procedure, Dr. Fiala will cover pre and postoperative care instructions – including medications, supplements, and habits that will need to be put on hold – to help ensure the most pleasant recovery period. During your follow-up visits, this advice can be restated, expanded on, or modified to meet your specific needs.
How Long After Tummy Tuck Can I Take A Bath
A tummy tuck (also called an abdominoplasty) focuses on reducing loose skin and fat from the abdomen and tightening the underlying muscles, making the waistline slimmer and more contoured. When combined with liposuction, tummy tucks provide women with the confidence they need to wear well-fitted outfits and feel their best in all kinds of social situations in New Orleans, LA.
While tummy tuck surgery does produce gorgeous body contouring results, many people are concerned about recovery. During this time, it’s important to be extremely careful with your body. One of the questions we get at New Orleans Plastic Surgery is when patients can take a bath after the surgery. Plastic and cosmetic surgeon Dr. Michelle Eagan addresses this concern below and encourages patients to get an assessment to learn more about post-operative care.
How is a tummy tuck done?
A tummy tuck procedure is done using general anesthesia. Dr. Eagan begins by placing a thin incision along the lower abdomen just above the pubic hairline. However, some patients may require a less invasive technique based on their needs. Once the loose skin is removed, we may employ a liposuction technique to remove small fat pockets. Finally, Dr. Eagan will tighten the muscles of the abdominal wall, creating a firmer midsection and flatter stomach.
What is involved with tummy tuck recovery?
All patients are informed about post-operative care before their procedure. This includes instructions about side effects, medications, and wearing a compression garment to reduce swelling. Patients should take time off from work after body contouring and avoid strenuous activities. Having a friend or loved one to assist with daily tasks will be extremely helpful, especially in the beginning when discomfort prevents you from standing upright or walking.
When can I take baths again?
Patients should not submerge their abdomen in water for up to six weeks after tummy tuck surgery and liposuction. This includes baths, swimming pools, and other bodies of water. Instead, take showers to wash the area with lukewarm water. We can provide information about gentle soaps and products you can use. When you’re not in the shower, keep the incision site clean and covered with a sterile bandage. This prevents complications, like infection.
A few tips about caring for incision site in the days and weeks after surgery in New Orleans:
- Check the site daily for signs of infection, like redness and swelling
- Avoid applying lotions or ointments to the wound unless directed by Dr. Eagan or the staff
- Do not stretch out the skin
- Avoid wearing constrictive clothing over the incision site
- Light, gentle massaging when cleared by Dr. Eagan can help improve swelling
How Can I Speed The Healing Process
New Orleans Plastic Surgery can recommend several ways to make recovery easier. For example, nutritious meals are essential during recovery. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains will keep your body nourished and encourage wound healing. Taking a multivitamin pill and vitamin C will aid in recover. Decreasing salty and processed foods will also improve the way you feel. When it comes to workouts, we recommend avoiding intense or athletic activities that damage the skin. Instead, go for gentle walks. This will keep you active without stressing the tummy tuck incision site. –
Tummy Tuck Recovery – 7 Top Questions
1. WHAT IS THE NORMAL RECOVERY TIME FOR A TUMMY TUCK?
- The recovery time from a Tummy Tuck surgery can vary from patient to patient.
- It can be helpful to allow 3 months or more to feel completely recovered – although most patients are through the majority of the healing period in just a few week’s time.
- Bruising and swelling, can take longer than 2 weeks.
- On average, you’ll need 2 weeks or more off of your normal work, parenting and home responsibilities; plus another 6 to 12 weeks to allow your body to recover and heal.
2. WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN’T DO AFTER GETTING A TUMMY TUCK?
- You’ll typically can’t DRIVE a car, lift children or anything else, for several weeks after having a Tummy Tuck.
- You’ll typically need to wait about 10-12 weeks before resuming any more strenuous activities, sometimes longer.
- High impact sports or training should be avoided for the duration specified by your Surgeon.
- If you are a competitive athlete, discuss your competition goals and your schedule with your Surgery planning team as far in advance as possible.
- Remember, when you get a Tummy Tuck, your body has been through reconstructive surgery.
- You may not feel fully healed for up to 3 months to as long as 4 or 5 months.
- Some patients say their healing felt like it took 6 months to up to a year – remember, every person’s different.
- But in general, most patients get back to the majority of their normal day to day activities within a period of a few months.
- Be patient!
3. HOW PAINFUL IS A TUMMY TUCK?
It may even leave you feeling as if you can’t stand tall. In time, the skin will adjust and the sensations will become less uncomfortable.
- Discomfort and the sensation of extreme abdominal skin tightness (that leaves you feeling you can’t properly stand up or stretch tall) will typically subside over a period of several days to several weeks.
- This is part of the process of getting you a tighter, flatter tummy.
- The scar maturation of your incision lines can take up to 2 years to fully mature (we offer special minimisation treatments, ask us during a consultation).
4. WHAT ARE SOME TIPS TO HELP ME HEAL AND RECOVER FASTER?
- Even if you’re healthy, don’t expect to ‘bounce back’ quickly – especially if you had a sophisticated procedure that included liposuction shaping as well as Diastasis Recti Repair.
- Make sure you have someone there to help you for – ideally – a week or two after surgery (prepare meals, help you dress/bathe or go to the bathroom) – as your body is going to need healing time.
- Don’t push yourself or you could harm your incision lines, including leading to an infection or tearing out your stitches – or lead to a bigger scar.
- Do your research so you know what to expect.
- Be patient about how long it takes; expect variance.
- Use your RAPID RECOVERY TIPS as instructed, including all suggested supplements and probiotics.
- Set your healing environment up to be conducive to resting and recovery (make it a nice place to sleep, rest and heal). Read more on How to Sleep After Abdominoplasty.
Ask your Plastic Surgeon for information and support if you have any concerns about your healing process or your incision line care.
5. WHY IS THE RECOVERY TIME FOR A MINI TUMMY TUCK DIFFERENT?
- The mini Tummy Tuck recovery time is likely to be a bit shorter than a full Tummy Tuck.
- It depends on what type of procedure was performed.
- Even a ‘mini tummy tuck’ is a bespoke procedure, so no two mini tummy tucks will ever be identical.
- If liposuction was also used for shaping, your recovery may take a bit longer than if your procedure involved only skin reduction.
- The factors listed above will influence recovery from a full tummy tuck vs a mini tummy tuck.
In other words, the same factors still apply for a mini tummy tuck as for a full tummy tuck. The key difference is that you may have less discomfort or less abdominal tightness, and you may be able to return to normal activities a few weeks sooner than if you’ve had a full tummy tuck/abdominoplasty with abdominal muscle repairs for diastasis recti (torn abs). However, few patients are suitable candidates for a mini-tummy tuck, and it may not get them the tighter, trimmer tummy area they’re wanting. If you have a mini Tummy Tuck, chances are you are very athletic and simply have a bit of loose skin (but no real abdominal muscle separation and no excess abdominal fat).
- Be sure you DON’T rush back into exercising after a mini-tummy tuck.
- Ask your Plastic Surgeon what he or she recommends about returning to exercise after an Abdominoplasty or Mini Tummy Tuck
6. WHY DOES THE RECOVERY FROM TUMMY TUCK SURGERY VARY SO MUCH FROM PATIENT TO PATIENT?
The main reason is that no two Tummy Tuck procedures are alike. Every surgery is bespoke. The type of Tummy Tuck surgery you have may be more complex, or more intensive a procedure, than another person. Additional factors that can impact your healing and recovery after a Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty include:
- your social support system and at-home support
- your overall health
- your skin health/skin condition
- whether or not liposuction was used for improved body shaping
- the quality of the rest you’re getting, and what you eat, drink and otherwise consume
- life stress; unexpected stressful events
- whether you return to work too soon
So expect some variance and ask your Surgeon what is normal during recovery from a Tummy Tuck.
CAN I BEND OVER AFTER TUMMY TUCK?
- In general, you need to keep a straight abdomen with slight bending while recovering after your tummy tuck.
- You should avoid bending over too much (e.g. to pick up your child) for the first 4-6 weeks after your abdominoplasty.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON’T WEAR A COMPRESSION GARMENT AFTER TUMMY TUCK?
- Abdominal compression clothes help reduce swelling and bruising and protect your abdominoplasty wound by applying constant pressure on the surgical area.
- Seroma (fluid collection) and hematoma (blood collection) are more likely to happen if you don’t wear your compression garment after a tummy tuck.
WHY IS MY STOMACH NOT FLAT AFTER A TUMMY TUCK?
- Swelling needs around 6 weeks to fully go away. Even then, a residual amount might remain a couple more months before it’s resorbed by your cells. Only then can you fully experience the full benefit of your tummy tuck.
WHEN CAN I WEAR JEANS AFTER TUMMY TUCK?
- In general, it is recommended that you wear light garment pants after your tummy tuck. Jeans can be too harsh on your wounds and can cause unnecessary pressure and injury.
- You can safely go back to wearing loose-fitting jeans around 2-3 weeks after your tummy tuck.
CAN I LAY ON MY SIDE AFTER TUMMY TUCK?
- After your tummy tuck, it’s recommended to sleep on your back for at least 4 weeks.
- Sleeping on your side might lead to accidental injury and will drive the inflammatory response toward one side of your belly causing it to swell.
WHY ARE MY THIGHS SO SWOLLEN AFTER TUMMY TUCK?
- After abdominoplasty, fluid seeps under your skin and accumulates in nearby areas, one of them being your thighs.
- Thigh swelling is a normal result of abdominoplasty.
HOW DO YOU GET OUT OF BED AFTER A TUMMY TUCK?
- To get out of bed, you need to support your upper body with your arms (without tensing your stomach), rotate yourself, and then support yourself with your legs. Give yourself a little push, and you’re up!