During the second week, you'll start to feel much better. By the end of the week, many patients are ready to return to work. As you resume your regular activity.
Your abdomen will be sore and swollen for the first week after surgery.
You may need to wear a compression garment as you recover.The skin on your stomach will be almost numb for several weeks or months. It's normal to feel tired while you're recovering. It can take 5 to 6 weeks for energy to recover its energy. You may not be able to stand up when you first get home, but this will get better. You'll need to get up and walk every day to regain your normal movement.
Between walks, move your feet and legs often. Every patient is different, and so is every tummy tuck surgery. The larger the operation, the longer it will take for it to return to normal. In Beldholm's experience, patients often report that they begin to feel “normal” again three months after surgery.
But even at this stage, there is ongoing inflammation and the scar is still red. Keep reading to learn more about what to expect while recovering from a tummy tuck. You'll start to feel a little better by the end of the first week and before the second week. You should be able to move, bathe (as instructed by your doctor), and do some simple activities, such as playing cards, sitting at the kitchen table, or walking a little longer.
Keep in mind that you will be hunched over when you walk. Most patients can return to their desk jobs within two weeks, but additional recovery time may be needed before returning to work for more physically demanding jobs. Between six and eight weeks, you should be able to resume all physical activities. After the second week, the discomfort and swelling decrease day by day.
Because you may still have pain in your tummy, you'll likely need help around the house. By the tenth day, most patients will begin to walk upright. The second phase of tummy tuck healing lasts three to four months. Because the rest of the swelling should go away, most people can see their final shape at this stage and can wear smaller clothing.
You shouldn't feel any pain or discomfort at this stage, and you'll be completely independent. However, the scars will still be red at this stage, as surgical scars may take several months or years to mature and disappear. A tummy tuck can change how you look and feel, giving you a more youthful and athletic appearance and, at the same time, improving your confidence. You'll definitely feel more like yourself about two or three months after surgery, and you should be fully recovered and healed after a full year. You may not have fully recovered from surgery (you'll be a little tired and have other symptoms), but you may be able to start to incorporate more exercise and other activities.
Some patients may feel some side effects, such as tightness, stiffness, swelling, or a pulling sensation, for weeks after surgery. In general, you'll feel a little better around the second week and before the third week, but you'll still have some pain and you may still need the use of a prescription pain reliever. This depends, but most patients start to feel “normal” after cosmetic abdominal surgery around the fourth or fifth week of recovery.
