The average recovery time for a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) is two to six weeks. However, this varies with the type of surgery. Mini tummy tuck procedures are less invasive compared to full, extended, Fleur-de-lis, and belt lipectomy, meaning they involve less recovery time.
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How long will it take to recover from my tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedure? How many weeks will it take to resume work? Will I be able to drive my car after my procedure? These are just a few common questions my patients ask during our consultation.
You might have the same questions. Today, I’ll be addressing all of these and other concerns you might be having regarding your recovery after a tummy tuck surgery.
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Recovery Timelines by Type of Abdominoplasty
The average recovery time from an abdominoplasty surgery is two to six weeks. However, this depends on various factors, such as the type of surgery and whether other additional procedures are included. Below is a detailed guide to the average recovery time for each type of abdominoplasty. Note that these are estimates, and the best way to determine your recovery timeline is by booking a consultative session with me.
Mini Abdominoplasty
A mini abdominoplasty is a surgical procedure that removes excess skin to improve the contour of the lower abdomen. It focuses specifically on the region below the navel and is ideal for patients with mild and moderate skin laxity. Compared to a full abdominoplasty, it involves a short scar, small excision, and no umbilical transposition.
Mini abdominoplasty offers four variations:
Mini abdominoplasty involving skin only and no liposuction
Mini abdominoplasty with muscle repair
Mini abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction and muscle repair
Let’s dive deeper and see what each of them entails.
Mini Abdominoplasty – Skin Only, No Liposuction
This is the least invasive tummy tuck surgery and can be done as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day after your surgery, and will only spend the night if there are any complications to be addressed.
Involving a small horizontal incision along the lower abdomen, most patients are able to stop narcotic pain meds 1 to 2 days after the procedure. Since mini abdominoplasty is not that comprehensive, our recovery from abdominoplasty timeline will be short. You can resume most of your usual activities within one week of your procedure and full exercise after two weeks.
As much as this timeline seems short, ensure that you don’t strain your delicate abdominal area, especially the first few days after surgery. If you experience any acute pain or discomfort, do not hesitate to notify me.
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Mini Abdominoplasty – With VASER Liposuction
Mini abdominoplasty featuring VASER liposuction is also less invasive compared to other procedures in this list. The VASER liposuction represents the latest advancement in the ultrasonic technology for fat removal. It targets and eliminates fat cells without damaging the surrounding structures, such as blood vessels, nerves and collagen bundles. The vibration energy of the sound waves produced interacts with the fat cells, effectively selecting them for removal while leaving the tissue matrix and connective tissue bands intact. This process is known as “Liposelection” and it helps to contract lax abdominal skin, providing a smooth and predictable outcome.
Though this procedure requires minimal recovery, it is more painful than a mini abdominoplasty skin only, with most patients able to cease their need for prescription pain medication five to seven days after the surgery
You can expect to resume your normal activities two weeks after your procedure. I however, advise you to slowly resume full exercise three to four weeks after your tummy tuck. This will allow optimal healing and lower the chances of incision site complications.
For more information, refer to my article, Mini VASER Lipo-Abdominoplasty Surgery for Post-Pregnancy Redundant Skin.
Mini Abdominoplasty – With VASER Liposuction + Muscle Repair
Mini abdominoplasty featuring VASER liposuction and muscle repair can be done as a day procedure. However, you will likely experience nerve pain compared to mini abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction only.
Most patients take pain relief medicine for seven to ten days. You should be able to resume most of your normal activities within two weeks of your procedure. If your recovery goes well, you should be able to start exercising again four to six weeks after the tummy tuck surgery with my approval.
Because you will need assistance getting back home, I advise you to bring someone along to drive you home.
It’s important to note that a mini-abdominoplasty can only correct muscle separation in the lower abdomen.
Full Abdominoplasty
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Download our short guide: “Top 10 exercise tips & advice after abdominoplasty”
Similar to mini abdominoplasty, the recovery timeline for full abdominoplasty depends on the selected surgery. Its main variations include;
Full abdominoplasty involving skin only, and no liposuction
Full abdominoplasty with muscle repair
Full abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction
Full abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction and muscle repair
Full Abdominoplasty with VASER Liposuction and without VASER Liposuction
Your recovery after Full Abdominoplasty with or without VASER liposuction will be longer than mini abdominoplasty procedures. After surgery, you should expect to spend a minimum of one to three nights in hospital. You will need someone to drive you home. During this time and the first few weeks of recovery, you will be on pain medication for two weeks to manage pain and ease the discomfort.
For procedures without VASER liposuction, you’re likely to start walking and get out of bed on the first day. You should be able to resume desk-type jobs within two weeks and full exercise eight weeks after surgery.
If you undergo VASER liposuction, expect a longer recovery period. You will stay on pain medications for about one to two weeks.
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Full abdominoplasty with Muscle Repair and Without Muscle Repair
Muscle repair surgeries offer more corrective abdominal laxity options; therefore, it takes more time to conduct and recover. You will spend a minimum of two days in hospital to assess your progress.
It will take four to six weeks to recover from a full abdominoplasty without muscle repair. You can return to work after eight weeks and resume exercising within one to two months.
A full abdominoplasty with muscle repair typically requires a three-day hospital stay. The recovery period for such extensive surgery varies between patients, and can expect to return to normal activities after three to six months.
Both full abdominoplasty variations are more invasive than all mini tummy tuck options. Full abdominoplasty involves making a relatively longer incision to address more skin laxity in the abdominal region, while VASER liposuction addresses excess fat.
Generally, I will require you to spend one to three nights in the hospital. This step is crucial as it gives us enough time to observe your body’s healing process, especially the delicate incision wound.
You will stay on your pain medicines for two weeks after your procedure. Full abdominoplasty procedures are more extensive and painful, and I will prescribe stronger pain meds, which include morphine or oxycodone, during the first week after surgery.
Getting out of bed the next day and walking around is possible. You can expect to experience chronic pain, especially in your lower abdomen.
You’ll need assistance getting back home after your hospital stay. I recommend you wait to resume driving until ten to fourteen days after your abdominoplasty surgery.
I will provide a detailed post-surgery guideline that you should follow to ensure your incision wound heals properly. I recommend that you not consider going back to work and resuming desk typing activities until two weeks after surgery and exercising after the eighth week. These timelines are just estimates, however. Every patient is different and I will advise you of your recommended return to normal activities at your follow up visit.
Extended Abdominoplasty
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Extended abdominoplasty procedures are more invasive compared to all full tummy tuck variations. Although similar to standard tummy tuck surgery, they require a more extensive incision, with variations that include;
Extended abdominoplasty involving skin only, and no liposuction
Extended abdominoplasty with or without muscle repair
Extended abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction
Extended abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction and muscle repair
For extended abdominoplasty without VASER liposuction or without muscle repair, you should expect to stay in hospital for four to five days. You should expect to resume normal activities in two and a half months and return to work after three weeks. It might take you longer if your job requires strenuous physical activities or heavy lifting.
There is no ideal recovery timeline for extended abdominoplasty with VASER liposuction or muscle repair procedures. However, you should consider resuming normal activities after three to six months.
Nonetheless, I must mention that patients vary, and so does their recovery timeline. There is no one-size-fits-all timeline for everyone, especially for extensive procedures, such as extended abdominoplasty surgeries.
Extended abdominoplasty has variations with the ideal choice depending on our findings after your assessment and your goals.
Therefore, the time it will take from an extended tummy tuck varies greatly, and we’ll determine that during our consultative session.
Fleur-De-Lis Abdominoplasty
Disclaimer: Operation performed by Dr Bernard Beldholm. Adult content, surgery has risks; individual results vary, seek 2nd opinion. Please see the full disclaimer.
Fleur-de-Lis procedures are similar to extended abdominoplasty surgeries, but more invasive. For FDL procedures addressing skin laxity after significant weight loss; I will make both vertical and horizontal incisions to address loose skin and excess fat in your lower and upper abdomen. These incisions will be extensive, requiring longer surgical time and a recovery timeline.
As with the previously mentioned procedures, the recovery timeline of a Fleur-de-Lis (FDL) depends on the complexity of the procedure among other factors. I will provide a detailed after-care guide depending on your procedure and progress.
Related article: Dr. Beldholm’s Step-by-Step Guide to Fleur-de-Lis Abdominoplasty.
Belt Lipectomy
Belt lipectomy procedures remove loose skin and excess fat around the “belt line” or waist after significant weight loss. During the procedure, I will make a 360 degree incision across your belly and lower back. This incision allows me to address the skin laxity and excess fat, flatten the stomach, and lift the buttocks and the outside of your thighs.
After a successful procedure, I will require you to stay in the hospital for five to seven days.
However, you’ll need assistance getting home and setting up your recovery space. You can start driving yourself three weeks after surgery.
You can expect to resume your sedimentary job about four weeks after surgery.
If there are no complications, you can slowly begin attempting full exercise routines eight to twelve weeks after your belt lipectomy procedure. Take it slow, be safe, and if you experience any severe pain, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Download our infographic: “15 Exercises to Try After Abdominoplasty”
Recovery Differs for Everyone
The timelines I have provided above are the average estimates based on my over 15 years of body contouring surgery experience. However, one clear thing is that recovery varies and depends on various factors such as your health, age, weight, lifestyle, and medical history.
These factors play a big role in determining how fast and effectively your incision wound heals. This calls for a consultation to assess your overall health condition. We will discuss how long you’ll wear your wound dressings, how to take care of these dressings, if there is a need for an abdominal binder, and so much more.
These sessions are crucial in creating your post-surgery aftercare. The after-care program I’ll provide will be personalised and detailed, featuring topics such as;
The amount of rest you need
Best way to take care of your wound dressings
PICO/Drains
Physical activity to avoid and for how long
Risks and complications
Mild to moderate pain management
Recovery timeline (returning to work, driving, showering, etc.)
What and how much to eat
How long you’ll need to wear your compression garment
Crucial tips on how to take care of your delicate incision wound
Our next in-person interaction, and so much more.
Essential Tips for Recovering at Home
A smooth healing and recovery call for excellent post-surgery care. Here are some essential tips to ensure you don’t put pressure on your delicate abdomen.
Sleeping
You’ll have to sleep in an inclined position the first few days after surgery. I will show you how to set up your bed so that your upper body stays slightly raised and the knees bent. This posture will help reduce swelling.
Smoking
You must quit smoking six weeks before your procedure and refrain from smoking for six weeks post-surgery. Smoking negatively affects wound healing, increasing the chances of post-surgery complications. A study by the National Library of Medicine shows that “Smoking is also associated with a reduction in fibroblast proliferation during the proliferative stage of wound healing. Fibroblasts produce essential structural proteins such as collagen fibronectin that are needed for granulation tissue formation and epithelialization. Collagen is the primary structural protein that affects a healing wound’s tensile strength and research has demonstrated that its production is diminished in smokers.”
Mobility
You must stay mobile during your recovery. Do not stay in bed all day; take short walks to promote blood circulation, which reduces the chances of blood clots and promotes wound healing.
Rest
After taking short walks, prioritise rest. Your body needs enough time to repair the affected tissues.
Hydration
Drink a lot of water to help remove toxins from your body and reduce swelling.
Diet
Eat a balanced diet, with your main focus on fruits and vegetables. Increase your fibre intake to reduce discomfort and strain during bowel movements. To reduce inflammation and swelling, limit your sodium intake, especially during the first weeks after surgery.
Compression garment
Ensure you wear your compression garment as advised to aid healing.
Showering
You should wait before showering for about two to three days. As you shower, opt for a sponge bath and avoid submerging the incision area in water. It’s important to keep the PICO dressing dry, as getting it wet can compromise its effectiveness and your healing process.
Exercising
After eight to twelve weeks, you can begin exercising based on your progress. Avoid exercises targeting your abdominal muscles, such as weight lifting and planks until I make an assessment and give you the go-ahead.
FAQs
Below are some frequently asked questions I receive from my abdominoplasty patients.
Will I walk hunched over after a tummy tuck?
Yes. You will walk hunched as part of your recovery process for the first one or two weeks after your tummy tuck. The duration varies among patients depending on the type of tummy tuck. As your incision wound heals, you’ll gradually return to walking straight. You’ll also begin experiencing less discomfort as you sit or stand.
How do you know if you have an infection? What is the first stage of infection?
The first signs of an infection after a tummy tuck surgery are swelling, redness, chronic pain conditions, and bleeding. Note that it is normal for a tummy tuck incision wound to swell or become red during the first few days after the procedure. However, if these signs worsen or you experience other signs, such as surgical site discharge, that will likely be an infection and require attention.
How serious is a seroma?
If identified early and treated, the seroma will usually disappear. If left untreated, it can persist long-term and form a permanent fluid collection that may require more invasive surgery to treat. This is one reason for the frequent follow-ups that I conduct in the clinic.
Do infections cause scarring?
Yes. Infections are among the various factors that can cause scarring in an abdominoplasty incision wound. If your wound gets infected, it takes more time to heal; if the infection becomes severe, it leads to other problems, such as extensive wound scarring.
Dr Bernard’s Final Take
Recovering from your tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) procedure mainly depends on the type of procedure you’ll undergo. I have listed and detailed the recovery timelines for all major abdominoplasty procedures above. However, your main focus should always be allowing your incision wound to heal completely. A well-healed incision wound leads to better results and fewer complications, eliminating the need for corrective surgery.
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References
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