Tummy tuck surgery or abdominoplasty is one of the most popular cosmetic surgery procedures. It is the recommended procedure if you want to get rid of the excess fat and skin in the abdominal area. The surgery also tightens the muscles of the abdominal wall. A lot of patients who get the procedure are dealing with loose skin as result of pregnancy or massive weight loss. After surgery it is important to keep fit to sustain the results of the surgery for longer. However, you should know that you can’t resume straight away exercising after abdominoplasty surgery. You need some time to recover before resuming your daily routine and starting exercise.
In this article, we will discuss what to expect after abdominoplasty surgery and the right way to get back to your fitness routine. Dr Hunt is specialist plastic surgeon who performs body contouring procedures in Sydney NSW. His techniques aim to bring out good results and reduce the recovery period.
Plastic surgery is followed by a recovery period that could last from few weeks up to a few months. How quickly you recover depends on the extent of the surgery, your overall health condition, and how well you stick to the postoperative instructions of Dr Hunt. Abdominoplasty surgery can be of various types. Sometimes the surgery is a skin only procedure – mini Abdominoplasty. Other times the tightening of abdominal muscles is also needed, along with liposuction. If the procedure is more complex or involves a combination of surgical techniques, the recovery period can be longer.
It is important to remember that every person is unique and will heal at a different pace. As a general rule of thumb, the younger and fitter you are, there is a high chance to recovery quickly after the surgery. It is important to allow your body to fully heal and recover before getting back to your exercise routine.
Exercising too soon can lead to prolonged swelling, blood clot formation, infections, separation of incisions, and more prominent scarring. You need to stick to Dr Hunt’s orders and listen to your body before trying a new activity.
Below we are going to discuss a generalised timeline of patient recovery and return to exercise following abdominoplasty. You might recover faster or slower based on the factors we have discussed above. It is important to take Dr Hunt’s opinion into account before resuming your regular exercise routine.
The first 24 hours after the surgery are critical and more challenging for the patient. No matter how fit you were prior to getting the surgery done, you might still experience trouble sitting up, lying down, and performing regular tasks. This is the time to rest and hydrate your body. Make sure you have someone to help you around the house. You can either ask a family member or a friend to take care of you or even hire a caretaker.
The only activity you should be doing at this time is walking shorter distances for a few minutes. This activity will improve blood circulation, prevent the formation of blood clots and kick start your healing journey. You might need support while walking. You should keep slightly bent forward position of the body to avoid putting too much pressure on the incisions. Avoid over stretching your muscles at all costs.
During the first few weeks after the surgery, Dr Hunt will advise you to wear a compression garment 24/7. Your core plays an important role in every single movement. Hence, you might find it challenging to carry out simple tasks such as standing up and even walking. Try to move gently and avoid ample body movements.
Make sure to extend the duration of your walks by the end of week one. Once the first 2 weeks are over, you can also incorporate other light cardiovascular exercises. Select activities that raise your heart rate without stressing your core. Stay clear of any strenuous activities. Avoid any movements that involve twisting and turning the abdomen. Stationary cycling is a great exercise to do at this point. It gets your heart rate up, enables you to move your legs and doesn’t involve a lot of abdominal muscle movement.
By the end of the third week, your swelling should subside significantly. If you haven’t tried walking longer distances or any other cardiovascular exercises by this point, now is the time to do it. Stay clear of heavy lifting and exercises that require full-body movements and/or involve your core. Sit-ups are still to be avoided, and the same is valid for Yoga and pilates.
Slowly and steadily increase the intensity of your cardio workouts. By this point, low-impact, cardio workouts will work well for you. Walking, stationary cycling, and elliptical are all good choices. By the end of the six-week marker, you can slowly add strength training workouts to your routine. Select exercises that isolate your arms and legs and don’t involve your core. You can also try working with a personal trainer to ensure you are isolating the right muscle groups.
If everything goes well, you should be cleared for all kinds of aerobic workouts. All low, moderate and high impact exercises should be ok at this point. You can also start doing yoga and other gentle full-body movements.
Once you feel comfortable with cardio, you can begin strength training as well. Be careful with exercises that can put stress on your abdominal walls. It is better to go for free weights rather than weight machines. By the end of the 8 to 10 weeks, you can slowly start to get back to your pre-surgery workout routine if Dr Hunt gives you a go. Start slow and gradually build up your strength. Do not go from zero to a two-hour full-body routine in one day.
Once you are fully recovered and cleared for exercise, you can resume your usual workout routine. It is crucial to wait for the right time, otherwise you might end up doing more harm than good.
Let’s see what muscle groups impact the overall appearance of your abdomen. Rectus abdominis, internal oblique, external oblique, and transversus abdominis all play an important role in how your tummy looks. If you work these muscles, you will have a toned and tight stomach. Here are a few exercises that will help you get a toned and fit tummy:
It is a basic yet highly effective exercise to tone your tummy. The exercise involves minimal movement and leaves little room for error. To achieve optimal results, go for slow and control the movement. Get your hands on a good quality yoga mat to do crunches. It will make exercising a lot more comfortable. Look at the ceiling and avoid tucking your chin to the chest. Avoid pulling on your neck. Once you master the basic crunch, you can try different variations:
Contrary to the name, leg lifts can have an amazing impact on your tummy. Lie on a yoga mat, keep your back straight and arms at your sides, and lift your legs a few inches above the ground. Make sure that your abdominal muscles are tight. Lower your legs slowly. Repeat as needed.
Plank is a great toning exercise for your tummy and the whole body. Place your hands under the shoulders in a push-up position and hold it for a minute. Try to keep your body in a straight line. Do not bend your hips and waist in any way. If you are new to plank, you can start with a 5 to 10-second plank and gradually build it up to one minute or more.
You can also try stability exercises as they engage multiple muscle groups all at the same time. Keep your body stable while doing ab tightening movements.
Contrary to the popular belief, ab exercises aren’t the only way to strengthen your ab muscles. You can try balance crunch, knee fold tucks, pilates, yoga, sliding pike and other exercises to keep your tummy looking toned and tight.
Here is a list of frequently asked questions we get regarding exercising after Abdominoplasty:
Dr Jeremy Hunt is specialist plastic surgeon performing breast, body, face and nose surgery.
He is a member of FRACS & ASPS and has over 20 years of experience providing cosmetic and plastic surgery in Sydney.
Careful, considerate and honest, Dr Jeremy Hunt works with you to find a solution that is optimal for your body and your lifestyle. Every patient is unique and, through his guidance, can achieve good results.
Dr Hunt’s personal, one-on-one service and attention to detail has given thousands of women and men from the Sydney & Wollongong NSW area and across Australia the aesthetic results they desire.
Dr Jeremy A Hunt MBBS FRACS graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine degree from Sydney University in 1990 and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and member of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgery. He completed a Fellowship at the prestigious University of Texas in the United States, where he learnt from some of the world’s very best plastic surgeons.
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