Once you are done with your tummy tuck or the abdominoplasty, the next task is to get back on your feet. After the procedure you will be expected to be under medical supervision for around two days. The first thing to recovery after a tummy tuck is to ensure that nothing untoward occurs immediately after the procedure.
In terms of recovery after tummy tuck, your body will need at least seven days to regain a modicum of its original self. You will once again have to visit the doctor at the end of this period to ensure that the healing process is going on fine. Similar check-ups will take place after a month, then three months, half a year and then a year after the procedure has been conducted. This is how long the recovery after tummy tuck can take.
The scar that appears after the surgery is often a small one and not something that you need to worry about. It will be gone before you know it. There will be some expenses involved during the recovery after tummy tuck. You will need to buy analgesics for yourself. Some patients experience a bit of pain after this is administered but this is natural.
The commonly asked question is when can one get back to their normal life? This depends on the healing process and can vary from person to person. In all probability, you will be able to get back to work within a week of the procedure. But make sure that your abdominal area is under no pressure and you do not experience any tightness. You will have to completely avoid exercising. The only thing that you can do is some good amount of walking. This will encourage the blood flow throughout your body and this is essential to the healing process. Recovery after tummy tuck s fairly quick but needs to be done with adequate care.
Hi All
I’m in the UK and 4 weeks post TT. What is clear from reading the posts here is that everyone’s experience is slightly different and clearly the decision to go ahead with this type of surgery should be based on your individual needs, once you are aware of the risks and weighed-up against the likely result. Don’t base any decisions to go ahead or not on what you read here or anywhere else on the internet. Please dont compare yourself to others in the recovery stages either because there will always be people doing better than you and it just makes you feel worse during what is often a slow, emotional and frustrating healing process.
I must admit I have been very lucky because I didn’t have to pay for my surgery, it was done by the National Health Service after I lost 9 stone in weight and was left with medical problems caused by sagging skin. Before surgery I had to attend a seminar which explained the risks and showed some photos of TT’s where the scar is not symmetrical and the result isn’t perfect. We were also shown pictures of severe seromas, wound breakdown and infection (although they were quick to say that these are fairly rare). The nurse also exaplained that we should not expect a perfect flat tummy afterwards. So I went to this seminar and listened to them saying no sport for six weeks but still had it in my head that I would bounce back really quicker than that because i’m fit and healthy.
The surgery itself went well, and I managed since day 1 on Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. This is not because I can tolerate pain, it’s because opiate drugs make me puke (which is not ideal after a TT!). I would say that for me, it was more about discomfort than actual pain – my back hurt from not standing straight and my butt hurt from sitting more than normal and from sleeping in a sitting-up position. I was in hospital for just two days and the drains were removed after 48 hours. Having the drains removed was the most painful thing I have ever experienced but over fairly quickly.
I would say that I didn’t start feeling like the old me until about 3 weeks post op and the surgery took much more out of me than I had anticipated. I’ve been wearing my binder day and night and been taking it easy apart from a short walk each day (after the first week). I still get tired fairly quickly and still live in fear of sneezing, coughing or hysterical laughter! This week I have improved lots (mainly due to stitches dissolving and being able to finally sleep on my side again….bliss!).
My wound has healed fairly well but I do have two small seromas. In the UK the approach is to leave these in the hope that they re-absorb into the body, so fingers crossed on that score! I’m certain that these seromas are partly due to the drains coming out so soon after surgery.
I’m still very swollen and can’t fit into jeans a size bigger than before my surgery which is a bit dis-heartening but I appreciate that it’s early days really and I need to give it time. I’m hoping to be able to exercise again fairly soon – I’ve entered a half marathon in February to give myself something to aim for!
Good luck to all of you and thank you for the open and honest posts here. xx
Like you I lost a lot of weight I get tt in 10 days and I am frightened of the pain and discomfort. I too am having it done on the Nat Health as I have a bad hernia which also needs repairing.I also want to see my son perform 9 days after my op will I be able to sit in a theatre?
Hello, I had my sugery 5 Weeks ago and i am very dissapointed and depressed. i have not lost weight at all. i have gained like 7 pounds and thats with a healthy diet. i eat a lot of green veggtables and chicken. i stay away from red meat and drink lots of water. i go walking for about 15mins a day. i ave some pains on my keft side of stomach and stiches are all almost gone. i cant fit into any of my clothes and i look very loped sided. i am actually scared that the doctor did something wrong. can some one please help me
Hi I had tummy tuck nov 18,its pain full still hard to sit up and swollen gain 10lb but lost 8 since surgery am very happy with all my surgerys my dr is great I recomend her for it.her name is.angila baker at usc ca.like I say its ben 8days going good just follow dr order you will be ok.i had gastro bypass lost 116lb had arm lift breast impl and lift and tummy and thats all the rest work out in gym…..thank god am healthy now fo kids no more inslin or blood pressure pills thanks to my primery dr that help me get me to usc.for.all that.god bless her….
I had a tummy tuck and breast lift with implants on November 30, 2011. I lost about 120 lbs naturally over the course of several years and maintained the weight for several years. I had a fluer di lis tummy tuck. I go back and forth with satisfaction. The top part of my tummy did not get as flat as I thought it was going to. The Dr. said he couldn’t pull it too tight because the area where the vertical and horizontal incisions meet is too fragile. It’s a HUGE improvement from before but I am having trouble coming to terms with the fact that I’m never going to have a super flat tummy and I have been overweight my entire life until the past few years. It’s frustrating because I keep looking for after pics of tummy tucks that aren’t perfectly flat tummies but I’m not finding any. I can’t be the only one. Also, I have a nasty expanding infection where the two incisions meet. My surgeon is working to resolve the infection but it’s disheartening right now. He’s a good surgeon, chief of plastics at a major teaching hospital in chicago and internationally known professor, researcher, and lecturer. I think I have to come to terms with not being perfect.
Healing after a TT does depend on the person, and I can not imagine one being well enough to return to normal activity in one or two weeks. I had a TT w/ lipo of the hips 9 days ago and I am still not able to stand up straight, and have severe back pain due to tightness and some remaining swelling. I wish I was of the fortunate few that are returning to work in 2 wks, because I can not see myself doing so in the next 5 days like I was told or intended to. Good luck to all!
I had extensive TT Dec 30 and still have my drain. I am not in an enourmous amount of pain, which is QUITE a relief, as I had heard some bad stories. There is some bruising and my belly-button seems very high right now, but i understand there is still swelling involved. I am a little disappointed that I have to wait the full 2 weeks to go back to work, but until the sutures are removed I am bound to stay at home. How about that crotchless girdle from hell? I guess it serves a very important purpose. I am having a reaction to the Steri-Strips (I told them I would!!!), which is proving to be more painful than the actual suture line. I can’t wait until I am 2 months out and it will be so GREAT to have a flat or even semiflat tummy. It all feels a little tight, but I understand that is swelling. I am following Dr’s orders to a “T” so that nothing bad happens. I cant wait until this drain gets removed in a few days. Then I can wear panties again!!!!!!!!!! Good luck everyone and follow Dr’s orders for the best results possible.
I had my TT Oct 14, 2011 and I had lost 7 lbs from that and I was looking for some similar people like me, Alicia I too have a top part that is not flat and is very fatty and my doctor says somewhat the same as yours but I think the amount of money we have paid, I paid $11,435.00 for a tummy tuck and my arms and I go for my 3 mos check up on Jan 25th I am so not happy but I am not sure why or what can be done without more surgery….I have serious back skin as well I too look much better but feel I was shafted as well…..On my hips (which never quite seen before) he didnt take my incision to my natural crease so now I have two creases, with a gathering of extra skin….I will never be perfect and I am happy with me but my tummy tuck is not what I expected.
I’m 4 1/2 weeks post TT w/lipo. My recovery, now I know, was somewhat normal, but without these types of blogs, I think I would have been much more worried because of all of the issues (swelling, pain, itching, muscle spasms, back pain, not standing up straight, etc.) which are common place. One missing element that most individuals have in common is the lack of information provided to us for what to expect after the surgery. I wish I has someone to ask questions of, but the one thing that most people said was “It’ll get better.” So I am here to tell you who are looking for answers after your surgery, “It actually will get better.” I have a follow-up appt today, and it should go well. Hang in there, I am healing up well, swelling is going down, I can stand up straight (although still can’t stretch or workout), I can sleep on both sides and back (still not on stomach), I can fit into my pre-surgery clothes (but i had lost weight before surgery and clothes were big on me). I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and feel good about it. Thanks so all of you bloggers for the updates, so I am passing on the favor to the newbies!!!
thanx u girl for yal information on yall tummy tuck. i getting my tummy tuck in 2day im happy and nervious at the same time. I dont know what to expect how eva it comes out it will look better than how it looks now. im expectin the worst out come and praying for the best pray for me…
I had my lipo/tummy tuck on 2/24/12 and I’m 11 days post op. went I one follow up appt. they put medical tape in and tour it off. My incisions get in the way of everything. The cut doesn’t hurt but it bleeds thru the tape in spots from time to time. My back is killing me. I force my self to walk straight but I’m afraid I might busy a stitch. The first time I sneezed I thought I would die. I had to grab a pillow and apply pressure. I did my homework before getting this procedure based on four of my sisters that did it as well. There healing process was 3-4 days but there all skinny bitches! I have a little meat on my bones 170lbs so the more fat they remove the more pain you feel. I didn’t know that! My ass is hurting from laying in this recliner for 11 days with my legs in the air. I wanna get back to my king size bed, but it’s so uncOmfortable now. My belly button is hard but I guess it will heal. I’m afraid to take these drains out. Will it hurt??? When will the back pains go away???
I had my tt in September 2011- I am about 6 mos out- my tummy is not flat- I have to wear a garment to keep the swelling down during the day while I work- and when I remove it- and do normal stuff around the house- it begins to swell- so I have to get the binder out and use that at home. There is still some tightness from the doctor sewing the muscle up tighter- it gets worse as I need to go potty- it really swells to the point the stitches itch or hurt.
You are correct when you say there is nothing that documents what to expect- so I keep hoping that this will get easier. I have gone back to exercising- I have a band around my waist as support and it also helps to remove excess water from this area. I keep in on all thru exercising and take it off when I get home. I have noticed at times that this area develops a pouch too…. something doesnt seem right to me- when I checked back with my doctor he stated he wants to remove more skin- this will help make the area flatter. Do I really want to do this? again?
I do suggest for each of you to at least look at the website- make me heal- the garments are expensive but work really well for the work we have had done.
Good luck to each of you
Hello all
I had a full tummy tuck and arm lift (brachioplasty) 4 weeks ago on Feb 20th 2012, I’m feeling great, my tummy and arms are still swollen but that’s to be expected, I’m feeling fine in myself just get very tired by 7pm and head to bed every evening nice and early. I’m healing very well and massage e45 into my scars twice a day as recommended by my nurse. My arms are sore, but it’s very difficult to completely rest your arms, I’ll be seeing my surgeon in 8 weeks for a check up, I last saw him 3 weeks ago and he was very happy with how quickly I’m healing. I can’t get into my pre op clothes, I’ve lost 16lb since having the op so I too am a little disappointed with this but I know I’m being impatient
(I’d lost 154lb in 4 years hence the need for surgery) x
I am 4 weeks post op. I had a full TT. I am still experiencing quite a bit of pain/discomfort in my belly button area and on my right midsection. And I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same. I usually feel fine in the morning but as the afternoon progresses I get more and more uncomfortable until nighttime when I am hunched over again holding my stomach as I walk. Other than that I feel great. I did have some regret the first time I took off the binding at home and looked at myself because I have had a flap since I was a teenager and the body in the mirror did not look like mine, it is much better now but I do limit how much I look at the area. I still do not fit very well in presurgery pants, however I have found a new love in my shirts and did spend a day trying everyone of them on as if it were the first time I had worn it. I do have this weird feeling when I remove the binding to shower. It feels like my flap is still there and that my scar line is going to open up and spill out. I’m hoping that it is just because it is all so new. I had my drain in for 3 weeks and that was a horrible experience to have it removed because not only was it very red and irritated, the surgeon said that my skin had already started to grow over the tube
, I wanted it out more than anything though. I was sore for a day then it was gone. That being said I would still do it again 
Hello. My name is Linda. I had my TT and lypo of the stomach, inner and outer thighs on March 20th, 2012-just 4 days ago. I’m sleeping in a recliner. Thank God for my daughter.
I slept most of the first two days. They had put a cath on me. We were told how to remove it. I removed it Thursday morning. I was only supposed to keep it in until the next morning, called the doctor and he said it could be in an extra day. It made it alot more convenient. I was put on Norco for pain and I’m on an antibiotic. I stopped using the Norco the second day because I noticed about 4 hours afterwards, my skin felt like it was crawling. Extra Strength Tylenol is working fine for me. I was afraid to cough. I thought it would rip something. I had my 1st post-op yesterday. The bandage was taken off and my first thought was-my belly button looks like it’s a small slit. The doctor explained that the swelling is why it’s not open more. I see on here that some people had their drains taken out within a few days. I was told a couple more weeks. I wasn’t having a bm, so the doc told me to take Colace. It’s an over the counter medicine. Today no problems on that deal. I was told that coughing was good because there is sometimes a risk of pneumonia. The nurse told me to hold a pillow over my abdomen and use a little pressure if I needed to cough. Since this is only my 4th day I’ll tell you how I feel today. My stomach feels tight and it feels like there is something moving around in my lower abdomen. I can walk straighter, I’m not really hunched but I can’t stand up straight. My lower back feels like it could break when I’m walking. I don’t have much of an appetite, so I drink water, VFusion, and small amounts of orange juice. My appetite is down. I’m more swollen today than yesterday. My abdomen is numb to the touch. There’s some dark red squiggley things in my drain tubes. Doc said that’s normal. I’ve been wearing my husbands night cloths pants. I put the drains thru’ the slit of the pants and use cloths pins to clip them onto my pants so they stay lower for the draining process. I try to get up every hour and walk some to keep the blood flowing properly. I don’t have alot of bruising but what I do have is itching. I have no pain in my thighs. This garment is too hot but will wear it as long as I have to. I am wearing boy cut panties over my garment so I can use a panty liner. That’s about it for now.
I am 6 days post op from a Tummy Tuck and Liposuction. I feel terrible still I don’t have much pain but the more I move the more exhausted I get. I am starting to get very depressed. I want my life back. I can’t imagine even going to work next week feeling like this. I wish I didn’t do this. Will it get better soon?
Thanks for posting! It took awhile to find others that were not satisfied or worried about the outcome of their tt. All I could find were pics of flat tummies, nothing like I have. I had a full tt with tightening 2 ½ weeks ago. Surgery went well, the next day had an office visit where they took out the catheter and I had my first look at my new tummy. It looked strange. For the first time ever I had a bulge ABOVE my belly button, then my tummy went in at the middle area, then back out due to swelling (I hope). I still have a mound leading to my private area. The roll above my new belly button is probably not swelling and is fat (my surgeon offered to lipo in few months, but I’m not sure I want to put my self through any more trauma!). I didn’t have any pain, stayed up on my pain meds for the first 3 days, then only took them once in awhile to help me sleep since my back bothers me so much from laying on it that I can’t get comfortable at night. I want to post pics so at least there will be some out there of not so flat tummies post-op so others like us won’t feel so alone. I’m still hoping my bulges are swelling. Besides feeling occasionally light headed, I feel ok. Went back to work 2 weeks after surgery. So far so good there. Best advice: take it easy the first two weeks. Do not push yourself like I did! Relax and make the most of your downtime. Good luck to you all.
To Kris – how are you feeling now? I went back to work 2 weeks ago, it’s fine, although I do get very tired and swollen by the end of the day, my scars are healing really well and I’m back in my pre op clothes, I’m pretty much back to my normal self and loving my new trimmed body
x
Thank God for this blog!!! I had TT & Lipo 17 days ago and the results were COMPLETELY what I was not expecting. How did it take me so long to find this blog? I think my panicking over my symptoms are worse than the symptoms themselves but it is such a relief to see that so many people are having a lengthy recover as well.
Most of the other places I’ve visited on the net talk about returning to work and playing tennis 5 days after. I spend the majority of my day in my recliner and can’t even take a shower. I’m still wearing a wrap and the pressure is causing severe swelling in my pelvis/penis/testicle region. Two days ago, my pelvis area, which was previously bruised, began rupturing and the bruises are now open wounds that are bleeding and oozing profusely. This has me severely concerned.
Has anyone experienced similar symptoms lasting this long (day18)?
Had a Tummy tuck on October 19, 2011 and I still have pain. My incision did not close correctly and my belly button has now closed. It has been a nightmare. The doctor says that I need a second tummy tuck to tighten up a little more, mind you I was not that big to begin with. He told me that most patients need a second tummy tuck, because when they do it the first time they can not tighten the muscles as much as everyone would like, because they risk the muscles coming apart. The second one is also coming out of my pocket, because he says that it’s an option, not necessary, but I have loose skin in tummy area. My stomach is tight as a rock, but the skin is loose.
Had a tummy tuck and liposculpture on my back on both sides April 9, 2012….I’m 13 days postop. My tubes were removed 2 days ago and feel much better that I’m not carrying around the drainage. My stomach is still very tight and still not able to stand straight and is painful to walk longer then a few minutes due to being huntched over. I was told it will be a few more weeks before I’m able to walk standing straight up. Ive had 3 c-sections and a gallbladder and hernia repair surgery doesn’t , ompare to the pain I was in the day after my tummy tuck. It is getting better and some of the bruising has gone away I can’t wait to see my results. I lost 7 lbs after the surgery and able to fit in 2 sizes smaller. I am happy with my results so far. Still have lots of swelling but still very fresh. I had my surgery done in Mexicali and only paid 4000.00 for tummy tuck and lipo. I know all bodys are different and results will never be the same. I I encourage everyone follow Drs guidelines and you should be ok.
I had my tummy tuck, benelli breast lift and liposculpture on my front and back side on March 18th 2012 so I am post op 7 weeks today and have been back to work for 4 weeks now. Yes I do have some intermittent pain around the areolar/nipples and sharp pains deep from the tt stiches internally. I also have some itchy, burning feeling where the lipo happened under the arms on the breasts on each side and the lower back where I experienced a lot of draining afterwards. Each day I awake and feel much better than the previous day – it takes a while to recover. I am 52 and I do not think that recovery time is about age but more about how much surgery we had done all at once – and lipo recovery is brutal! The real worse part of it all is the tumescent lipo recovery from the burning, tingling, soreness, painful skin as it continues to develop scar tissue between the skin again as it heals. But overall, having a waist again and going from size 11 pants to size 8 is worth it all! Also my breast lift and reduction is great! From D cup to a B is a blessing! When you choose the best PS you have a problem free recovery I think from my experience anyway. My total cost was 15,000 and worth it totally worth it!