When can I actually lift heavy weights again after a tummy tuck? This is one of the most common questions I hear from my patients. Returning to physical activity is an important part of recovery, but it needs to happen at the right time.
Written by Mark Domanski, M.D.
Recovery and physical activity
Recovery after an abdominoplasty is a common concern for patients. I would prefer for patients to have more time than not enough for recovery. Lifting heavy weights is one of the last things you will do after a tummy tuck and here is why:
In general, you should be getting back to your life in terms of work, driving, and family responsibilities about 2-3 weeks after a tummy tuck. It may however take 6-8 weeks to get back to physical activities such as your yoga routine. Here is why:
- Tighter abdominal skin
- Diastasis recti repair
- Combined procedures
1. Tighter abdominal skin
After an abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) the skin on the belly is tighter. This means a patient will initially feel most comfortable to sleep with their hips and knees flexed, in a beach chair type position. Patients will often use a recliner, or pillows for support.
Lifting heavy objects requires flexing the abdominal muscles such as the rectus muscles. The rectus muscles are otherwise known as the six-pack muscles. During pregnancy or weight gain, the tendon between the rectus muscles spreads apart. This is called a diastasis recti. Diastasis means “an abnormal separation of parts normally joined together.” Recti refers to the rectus muscles.
2. Diastasis recti repair
During an abdominoplasty, the diastasis recti repair is performed by using sutures to plicate (or back) the tendon between the recti muscles. This brings the recti muscles into the midline and flattens the belly. However, as the recti muscles are important to heavy lifting, I would advise against heavy lifting for 6-8 weeks.
3. Combined procedures
I have noticed that patients with combined procedures, such as an abdominoplasty with breast augmentation or breast lift, take a little longer to recover. This makes sense: more surgery, more recovery. The advantage of a combined procedure is getting everything done at once, only one anesthesia, and one recovery.
Sincerely,
