Is it normal to sleep a lot after tummy tuck?
Answer: Postop fatigue for number of days after abdominoplasty is common. After surgery the body investors energy in healing the operative site. Patients often feel listless and require excess sleep. Sleep is much as you wish but you should but periodically to exercise the extremities.
So, how long will you have to avoid sleeping on your stomach? It is recommended that patients avoid stomach sleeping for at least six weeks after surgery. During those six weeks, your abdomen is healing and producing your results. You do not want your sleeping position to disrupt this process.
It's normal to feel tired while you are healing. It can take 5 to 6 weeks for your energy to return. You may not be able to stand up straight when you first come home, but this will improve. You'll need to get up and walk every day to regain your normal movement.
Some restrictions right after a tummy tuck include; No Heavy lifting at all during your recovery. Avoid strenuous physical activities, swimming and driving until your surgeon gives you the green light. Stay home and get rest for 2-3 weeks.
In the first week after tummy tuck surgery, Dr. Patronella recommends patients take short walks of 10 minutes, gradually increasing this to one mile, twice daily by days 10 to 14 days after the procedure.
Answer: Showering After Tummy Tuck
Following a tummy tuck, I have my patients wait until after their drain tubes are removed to begin showering fully. This is usually between 5 and 10 days . During that time, sponge baths are allowed. In general, a surgical incisional wound is sealed by 48 hours after surgery.
- Eat Foods High In Protein & Drink Plenty Of Water After A Tummy Tuck. Drink lots of water for Tummy Tuck recovery. ...
- Listen To Your Body After Tummy Tuck Surgery. Listen to your body during Tummy Tuck recovery. ...
- Consider Receiving Lymphatic Drainage Massages.
Answer: Trouble sleeping after tummy tuck
You can have trouble sleeping after a major procedure such as a tummy tuck due to the anesthesia and narcotics. Your sleep patterns should normalize as you continue in the recovery process. Please continue to follow up with your plastic surgeon.
Walking is always very good after surgery especially if you're feeling good. I would check with your PS first. I will say if you walk too much and have too much movement of your abdomen you can start swelling up again and possibly get a seroma. Just be careful with every movement.
Answer: Activity after a Tummy Tuck
If you do too much too early you put yourself at risk for seromas, hematomas, or incision separation. Be careful and follow the instructions of your surgeon.
How many weeks after a tummy tuck can you drive?
You may be able to drive and return to a desk job as early as two weeks after a tummy tuck. If your work requires heavy lifting or strenuous activity, you will need to wait at least four to six weeks.
You Might Gain Weight (Temporarily)
Swelling after a tummy tuck won't just affect how your clothing fits. It might also lead to some (temporary) weight gain. You might retain water for a few weeks after the surgery, which can mean that the number on the scale will be higher than usual.

Walking after tummy tuck surgery is important; each day following your procedure, you should walk a little bit longer and a bit farther, to increase your strength and facilitate healing.
Don't Use Nicotine or Alcohol
It's important to stop using nicotine for six weeks before and after the procedure to prevent any complications from occurring. Using alcohol around a tummy tuck is less strict, but you'll still want to avoid drinking for a few days before and for your recovery period.
Answer: Resuming house chores after tummy tuck
I recommend waiting two weeks before any type of strenuous activity such as house cleaning. Waiting this period of time helps to reduce the chances of post-operative bleeding and swelling. You need to give your body a chance to settle in and heal.
Toilet Seat Booster
Generally, toilets are fairly low to the ground and we don't realize this until some part of our legs, pelvis or core is sore. After a tummy tuck, getting low enough to sit down on the toilet can be difficult and uncomfortable. A toilet seat booster may just be your new best friend.
Generally, it takes two to three months to see results, depending on the tummy tuck technique that was performed, the extent of skin laxity, and the patient's general state of health.
Soda, tea, coffee, and other beverages can be added, but aren't included in that count, so think water, water, water! Avoid these constipation-causing foods for the first week after your procedure: Red meat.
The best sleeping position after tummy tuck surgery is on your back with your upper body elevated to create a slight bend or angle. Using pillows or sleeping in a recliner is ideal to achieve this position.
Exercise helps prevent blood clots, so try to get up and walk around the room every hour. However, avoid activities that strain you, and avoid heavy lifting, and prolonged standing for the first week. You won't be able to lift weights, lift your kids, or do crunches for several weeks.
How should I sleep at home after a tummy tuck?
Once at home, many patients wonder how they should lay. The best resting and sleeping position after a tummy tuck is on your back, ideally with your upper body on a slight angle (such as with pillows or in a recliner). This helps take the strain off your tummy tuck incision.
Will sneezing or coughing hurt my tummy tuck results? Sneezing, coughing and laughing in the days following surgery should not hurt your results (although it might be slightly uncomfortable). Your sutures are designed to withstand normal muscle movement and they will not come out if you sneeze, laugh or cough.
During body contouring procedures like a tummy tuck, fat cells are eliminated from the body and cannot return. Because of this, patients may gain weight in other places like the buttocks, legs, arms, and breasts.
Changes in skin sensation.
During a tummy tuck, the repositioning of your abdominal tissues can affect the nerves in the abdominal area, and infrequently, in the upper thighs. You'll likely feel some reduced sensation or numbness. This usually diminishes in the months after the procedure.
Tummy tucks and liposuction are very effective for helping patients reach their weight loss goals in Louisville, KY. After surgery, patients experience a greater boost in their stamina and energy levels, which helps them to be more active and healthy during the day.
Every individual body is different and your recovery depends on a few factors, including the complexity of your procedure and your dedication to aftercare. The average time until a patient can stand straight after their procedure is 1 – 2 weeks, with most being able to after about 7 days.
In general, pain is mild to moderate after a tummy tuck. Rarely, pain or sensory abnormalities can persist for months or even years after the procedure. If your pain is severe or persistent, you should tell your healthcare provider.
On day 3, activity is encouraged but should be limited. Any activity involving lifting and carrying, driving, exercise, smoking, and drinking alcohol should be avoided. A drain is a device that directs excess fluid away from the incision and out of the body.
It's not uncommon for people who have a tummy tuck to have a smaller appetite for the first three to six months following their surgery. The tightening of skin and muscles in your abdomen may cause your stomach to feel constricted, encouraging you to eat less.
Most women lose between 2 and 3 pants sizes after a tuck, but there are patients who lose even more. If you had a lot of loose skin before the procedure, for example, you could go down 4 more pants sizes.
Do you weigh less after a tummy tuck?
A tummy tuck can result in a weight loss of approximately four pounds. If you opt for a mini truck, you can expect to lose around three pounds of excess skin and fat. If you opt for an extended tuck, you can expect to lose around five pounds of excess skin and fat.