While tummy tuck recovery varies for each person, it’s a good idea to understand the process and prepare yourself as best as possible. The first step to preparing for your recovery begins long before your actual surgery, at your consultation. Have a list of questions ready to ask at your consultation, and don’t hesitate to get as much information as possible.
In this post, we provide answers to some of the most common tummy tuck recovery questions to get you started.
How Long Is the Recovery After a Tummy Tuck?
While it can take up to 6 months to fully recover from a tummy tuck, you will make good progress after 2 to 3 weeks. Most people can return to work at the 2-week mark and resume their usual workout routine after 4 or 5 weeks. Remember, you need to recover at your own pace, so give your body time to heal.
Tummy tuck surgery is frequently combined with other surgical procedures, but its recovery is usually the most extensive. So even if you combine another surgery, such as breast augmentation, with your tummy tuck, your recovery period should remain the same as we outlined above.
How Should I Sleep After a Tummy Tuck?
If you typically sleep on your side or stomach, you will have to make some temporary adjustments. Your plastic surgeon will advise you to sleep in a recliner or propped up on your back for a few weeks after your tummy tuck. This will help keep your incisions stable, minimize swelling, and make it easier to get up and down.
How Soon Can I Have Sex After My Tummy Tuck?
It’s a good idea to wait for around 3 to 6 weeks before being intimate with your partner. Engaging in strenuous activities such as sex or exercise too soon can strain your incisions and impact the healing process. However, if you have a mini tummy tuck versus a full tummy tuck, you might be ready for strenuous activities sooner.
Can I Get Pregnant After a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck should not interfere with your ability to become pregnant. However, you should be aware that pregnancy after a tummy tuck will affect your surgical results. Women typically experience weight fluctuations during pregnancy, which can cause their skin to re-stretch. To maintain your tummy tuck results for as long as possible, it’s a good idea to have your children before the procedure.
Is a Tummy Tuck Dangerous?
There will always be some risk when undergoing a surgical procedure, which is why you need an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon by your side. An accomplished surgeon who has performed many tummy tucks will be focused on your safety and ready for any complications that might arise.
You likely will have many more questions about your tummy tuck procedure, its results, and the recovery experience. To learn more about how a tummy tuck works, request a consultation or call us at (518) 328-3330 to schedule an appointment. You can also browse our patients’ tummy tuck before and after photos to see the type of results that are possible.
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