After a tummy tuck, you will be cleared by your doctor to exercise. The most important thing is that you do not strain yourself and that you listen to your body. You should avoid any strenuous activity for at least six weeks after surgery. When it comes to exercise, there are some things that can help you get back into shape faster than others.
If you’re looking for an easy way to get back in shape after surgery, try walking or swimming. These exercises are low-impact and won’t put much stress on your body. They will also help you shed pounds and tone up quickly. If you want something more intense, consider joining a gym or taking a fitness class such as Zumba or yoga once you’ve fully recovered from the surgery. It’s important to remember that during this time period, it may take longer than usual for your body to heal properly if you overexert yourself with physical activity. This could delay recovery time and increase risk of complications such as infection or blood clots forming in your leg veins (deep vein thrombosis).
Read on to learn more about How Long After Tummy Tuck Can You Workout, Toning Abs After Tummy Tuck, Exercise After a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
How Long After Tummy Tuck Can You Workout
Also referred to as an abdominoplasty, tummy tuck surgery is often performed as part of a mommy makeover package to help women regain their figures post-pregnancy. Although your plastic surgeon should go over the operation in detail beforehand, it is important to learn some basics about the procedure. This will help you in better understand what your body is dealing with throughout the recovery process.
Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rolando Morales performs abdominoplasty surgery on men and women who desire a slimmer and more contoured body. At Morales Plastic Surgery, we offer information and guidance about tummy tuck recovery and results. Learn more about the process, as well as when to exercise after a tummy tuck, by reaching out for a consultation at our office. We are prepared to address your questions and concerns in Houston, TX.
What happens during tummy tuck surgery
A tummy tuck is an excellent way for individuals to slim down and get the leaner appearance they most desire. While some fat may be removed, tummy tuck surgery is not necessarily a weight-loss procedure. A tummy tuck is primarily aimed at removing extra skin and repairing separated abdominal muscles, which results in a tighter and more toned look. In order to achieve this, Dr. Morales creates an incision in the lower abdomen. Liposuction is used to suction out fat, and the abdominal muscles are pulled tight. The belly button may also be repositioned for natural placement.
Dr. Morales performs this plastic surgery while the patient is under general anesthesia in an accredited surgical facility, usually taking about two hours to complete. A full or extended tummy tuck requires a longer incision when compared to a mini tuck. During your consultation, we can discuss topics such as incision length and the degree of correction necessary. Keep in mind that the decision to have surgery is a personal one, and you will have to determine if the tummy tuck results outweigh the potential risks to achieve your goals.
How to handle tummy tuck recovery
In the first 24 hours after surgery, patients are monitored closely before being released to a trusted family member or close friend. Dr. Morales will provide post-operative instructions so you can rest comfortably at home. This will include information about caring for the incision, how to prevent swelling, and what to do in case of infection or other complications. Even though sitting up or standing on your own may be difficult at first, it will become easier every day.
Patients wear a compression garment for 4 – 6 weeks to maximize tummy tuck results and reduce discomfort. During this time, it is important not to push yourself too hard or lift heavy objects. This risks placing too much strain on the incisions and abdominal muscles. By the end of the second week, you should be able to return to work, as long as your job is not physically demanding. At the end of your tummy tuck recovery, you should be able to notice a flatter, firmer contour that is proportionate with your body type and weight.
About exercise after tummy tuck surgery
Many of our valued patients in Houston, TX ask questions about when to safely exercise after tummy tuck surgery. If you follow the recommendations provided and there were no complications during recovery, there is no reason why you shouldn’t return to regular workouts at 4 – 6 weeks. Each individual responds differently to plastic surgery, however, so when you attend your follow-up appointments at Morales Plastic Surgery, Dr. Morales will assess the area and clear you for certain exercises.
Physical exercise is a great way to lessen the chance of weight gain, which may reverse the effects of the procedure. While many people are excited to return to their favorite exercises right away, too much activity too soon can cause more harm than good. You can begin by taking walks around the house or neighborhood, then slowly working your way up. As a leading plastic surgeon, Dr. Morales would be happy to offer advice to help you meet your fitness goals.
Reveal a slimmer you
We want to warmly welcome you to Morales Plastic Surgery, an innovative plastic surgery clinic with modern tools and experienced staff to exceed all your expectations and more. With his established practice, Dr. Rolando Morales assists patients in accomplishing their desired tummy tuck results. We encourage you to take a tour and see our facility in Houston, TX and see what we have to offer. Learn more about exercise after tummy tuck surgery by calling our practice to schedule an appointment.
Toning Abs After Tummy Tuck
If you’re planning to have tummy tuck surgery, you’re probably already familiar with the many ways in which this procedure can improve your core. Not only does tummy tuck surgery remove loose skin and subcutaneous fat (allowing your muscles to show more prominently), it can heal damaged muscle tissue. For some patients, having a tummy tuck is a necessary step on the road towards achieving strong abdominal muscles. Take a look at our tummy tuck before and after pictures in our photo gallery to get an idea of what can be accomplished.
Why Do Some People Need Tummy Tuck Surgery to Strengthen Their Core?
Those who have been pregnant or significantly overweight in the past often struggle profoundly with their core. They usually labor under the erroneous idea that diet and exercise alone can restore lost muscle tone and create a “flat” stomach. Only to discover, after many hours of exercise, that this simply isn’t the case. The problem isn’t their dedication or technique; instead, the issue is within their muscle tissue.
When a large amount of weight (from fat deposits or a growing baby) exerts stress on the walls of the abdominal cavity, the tissue that connects the two lateral halves of the abdominal muscles often tears. When this happens, the muscles are prevented from working in unison; they therefore cannot be strengthened properly with exercise alone. Unfortunately, these tears don’t usually heal on their own because tissue needs to be connected in order to heal (this is why deep cuts require stitches in order to close). Sutures must be placed in the tissue during tummy tuck surgery to start the healing process, which often takes about two months to complete. After this occurs, the patient is ready to start working on his or her core via conventional means like diet and exercise.
The 5 Best Core Workouts for Tummy Tuck Patients
As a tummy tuck patient, it’s essential that you wait until your surgeon tells you that it’s okay to start exercising again. Exercising too early can cause your muscle tissue to tear again, making revision surgery necessary. However, once you have been given the “all clear,” exercise is a great way to accentuate the results of your procedure. Strong abdominal muscles exert a “corseting” effect on the abdomen, pulling in subcutaneous fat stores and compressing the organs. This makes the stomach flatter as these tissues protrude less.
Exercise After a Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
The recovery period following a tummy tuck is longer than that of just liposuction. Because of the muscle repair that is involved in a tummy tuck, the body needs a longer time to heal before becoming stressed by any kind of workout.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of sports and training routines rely on activating the core musculature, which includes the rectus muscles. Therefore, patients are instructed to wait four weeks before beginning light cardio exercise. When patients begin this exercise at four weeks following surgery, they have to start very slowly and advance to a more vigorous routine over a span of four additional weeks, which will allow adequate time for the muscles to heal. Once the patient is able to perform moderate cardio exercises, they will be released for light resistance training and then finally core work. It may take 8 – 10 weeks before a patient may perform sit-ups, crunches, or twisting movements. As with liposuction, a compression garment is recommended during the first 6 – 8 weeks following surgery to limit swelling and guide skin retraction. Also, patients will experience prolonged swelling around the waist and above the scar the more they work out in the early post-operative period. This is not harmful; it simply prolongs the final result.
Exercise After Facial Rejuvenation (Facelift, Eyelid Lift, Brow Lift)
Following a facial rejuvenation procedure, patients are recommended to refrain from any activity that will increase their heart rate and/or blood pressure for at least four weeks. This is due to the fact that these procedures involve operating beneath the skin of the face, eyelids, or brow where there are hundreds of tiny blood vessels that can easily bleed after surgery with just a slight increase in blood pressure. If this were to happen, a hematoma, or a collection of blood, could form under the skin resulting in significant complications, including a return trip to the operating room. After the first four weeks, the majority of patients can resume light cardio (walking or slow stationary cycling) and gradually work up to a more vigorous workout over the subsequent two weeks. By six weeks after surgery, most patients can return to various activities, such as hiking, golf, or yoga.
Exercise After A Breast Lift
While it is important for patients to get back to exercise and an active lifestyle following breast lift surgery, it is also extremely important for the body to be given the necessary time to heal. Dr. Williams has experience in working with athletes following surgical procedures and will work with patients to provide specific guidelines that fit their needs. Some general guidelines following a breast lift:
Lower body exercise is recommended and encouraged following a breast lift. Body weight squats and lunges and leg presses are allowed, and light cardio using a stationary bicycle or an elliptical without the arm attachments are good choices in the weeks immediately following surgery. Any type of exercise that involves bouncing type motions or the upper body area should be avoided until the four-week post-op visit, at which time Dr. Williams will evaluate the patient and determine the most appropriate exercise program.
Exercise After a Breast Reduction
Following a breast reduction, many patients are anxious to exercise, as they may have had limitations in exercise due to their previous breast size. While Dr. Williams encourages physical fitness, it’s crucial to let the body sufficiently heal following a breast reduction procedure. While Dr. Williams will work with each patient on an individual basis to determine what their exercise capacity may be following a breast reduction surgery, there are some general guidelines:
Lower body exercise is encouraged in the immediate weeks following a breast reduction surgery. While weights should not be used, body weight lunges and squats are perfectly fine. Low impact cardio is encouraged, and walking, stationary bicycling, and using an elliptical without the arm attachments are all good choices. Any type of exercise involving the upper body should be avoided until clearance from the surgeon. At the four-week post-op appointment, Dr. Williams will evaluate the healing progress and determine if the patient is ready to begin exercise that involves their upper body.