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So, you’ve just had tummy tuck surgery, and you want to get yourself in the best shape of your life so that when you show off your plastic surgery results, you’ll turn even more heads.
But it’s so important to remember that you’ve had significant surgery, and cosmetic surgery is really just a controlled injury to your body for a purpose.
This means that you have to know what you can and can’t do to your body as it recovers.
Not only does pushing your body too much too soon after your plastic surgery procedure increase the risk of pain and complications as you heal, but it can also negatively affect your results.
What Should You Expect After Tummy Tuck Surgery?
Tummy tuck surgery is one of the most common plastic surgery procedures, with some of our favorite celebrities proudly claiming that they’ve had a tummy tuck.
While the results of tummy tuck surgery are dramatic, giving you a more trimmed and toned midsection that you’ll want to flaunt on the beach and at the pool, this procedure requires a significant amount of downtime to allow you to recover completely.
It is important to keep your body moving to increase blood flow and the healing process, but how much is too much?
Find out which exercises should be skipped right after your surgery and which can help you recover quicker.
What Do I Need to Know About Tummy Tuck Recovery?
Many men and women struggle with the idea of resting during their tummy tuck post-op recovery.
They want to get up and move, especially if they’re used to maintaining an exercise routine.
And while moving your body is a vital part of helping your recovery after any plastic surgery procedure, you have to make sure to do the right types of exercises.
Exercises to Avoid
Any exercises that require strenuous activity should be avoided for at least six to eight weeks after your tummy tuck surgery.
Besides causing pain from the movement, these types of exercises can put unnecessary strain on the wound and sutures, which keeps the area from healing as quickly as it could.
This means that you should avoid any type of weight lifting, crunches or sit ups, squats, and more intense yoga routines. Until you are cleared to return to normal activities by Dr. O’Toole, you will want to stay away from the gym.
However, this doesn’t mean that you have to sit on the couch and do nothing while your body heals.
Exercises That Help With Your Recovery
While you do want to refrain from any strenuous activities while your body recovers from tummy tuck surgery (which usually takes up to eight weeks, but can take longer), making sure that you are moving your body can help speed up the recovery process.
Some great exercises to do after your tummy tuck include short and slow walks. Whether around your house or around the block, walking will help get your blood moving through your body, which reduces swelling.
Light stretching and yoga breathing practices (known as “pranayama”) can also help your body recover quicker.
Around eight weeks after your surgery, you may be able to begin low-impact resistance exercises, such as slow swims and jogging in the pool. At your follow-up appointment, Dr. O’Toole will help direct you on which activities are safe for you.
In the End…
One of the things that you need to remember as you recover from your tummy tuck surgery is that your body will give you a clear understanding of what it can and can’t do.
Always listen to your body.
If something hurts, make sure that you stay away from that particular movement until you are more fully healed.
Visit our tummy tuck before and after gallery to see more transformations.
Interested in Learning More?
If you have questions about tummy tuck surgery or any of the other procedures we offer at Pasadena Cosmetic Surgery, give us a call at (626) 671-1756 or fill out our online contact form.