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Exercise Before and After Abdominoplasty

 

A tummy tuck is a great option for patients looking to remove excess skin and fat from the abdominal area and reshape the waistline. Exercising both before and after your procedure is vital to achieving and maintaining optimal results. Exercise before your procedure can enhance your results and speed recovery time.

Pre-Surgery Exercise
While many people are concerned about downtime and exercise after a tummy tuck, working out before the procedure is often overlooked. Doing core exercises to strengthen and tone your abdominal muscles starting a few months prior to your surgery will help you recover more quickly after your surgery. Ensuring you are at a safe, goal weight before the procedure is also key to a successful operation.

Post-Surgery Exercise
After surgery, you may be wondering when you can start returning to your normal exercise routine. Working out after an abdominoplasty and maintaining a stable weight are critical for preserving your results, but it is important to give your body time to heal before fully returning to your usual exercises.

Lifestyle Changes During Recovery
Diet
After your procedure, it will be important to eat nutritious meals and stay well hydrated on a daily basis. A diet rich in fiber and protein is best for
optimal healing. It is important to maintain a stable weight after your surgery as weight fluctuations can change your post operative size and shape, while also putting unnecessary stretch on your incisions and skin.

Daily Activities
You will need to take time off from work after your procedure so that you can rest and recover before resuming your day to day activities. The amount of time you will need to take off of work will depend on your own recovery and the nature of your day to day job. For the first 6 weeks after your procedure, you will also need to completely avoid lifting any heavy objects. Do not push, pull, or lift anything heavier than 5 pounds during this time frame. There restrictions are key to having your abdominal muscles health and your abdominoplasty incision heal as thin as possible.

When should I begin exercising again?
While every patient!s recovery is different, below are general timelines on what you might be able to expect for returning to exercise following
your procedure:

1 to 2 weeks post op:
In the first few weeks immediately following your surgery, it is very important to make sure you are resting as much as possible but also walking to boost blood flow and help prevent blood clots. You should be up and walking lightly around your house with assistance the night of your surgery. During these first two weeks, you should completely avoid exercising such as weight lifting or cardio exercises that raise your heart rate.

3 weeks post op:
After around 3 weeks, you will be able to walk more frequently and for longer periods of time. Walking a few times a day for 10 to 20 minutes will help with your recovery. However, you should still be avoiding any exercises other than walking at this point.

6 weeks post op:
Although each patient!s recovery process is different, many people are ready to begin easing back into their exercise routine around 6 weeks post-operatively. You should begin with increasing the duration and frequency of your walks and slowly begin incorporating lower body workouts, light weight lifting exercises, and light cardio. You will need to avoid exercises that target or engage your abdominal muscles at this point because they will not be fully healed.

12 weeks post op:
Depending on your healing, you may be able to begin abdominal exercises at 12 weeks postoperatively. You will need to get approval from Dr.
Tamara Dawli before resuming abdominal exercises. It is important to take breaks if you need to and let discomfort be your guide when resuming exercises. You should stop doing any abdominal exercises if you feel intense pain in your abdomen. What exercises can I do after surgery to keep my stomach flat? After you are completely recovered from your surgery and you have Dr. Dawli!s approval to begin working out with no restrictions, you should start exercising to maintain and further enhance your results. Knowing which muscle groups to target with effective exercises is important to achieve a toned appearance. Beginning with a few basic exercises and gradually increasing the number of repetitions will help to strengthen your abdominal muscles after surgery. The following exercises are great options to target your abdominal muscles:

(1) Crunches
Crunches are a simple and effective exercise that specifically target your abdominal muscles. It is important to maintain good form while performing crunches, making sure that your back is flat on the ground and that your hands are behind your head. Do not tuck your chin to your chest or pull on your neck. You can also try twisting with your crunch to add variation. You can find many videos online demonstrating the best way to perform crunches.

(2) Leg Lifts
To do a leg lift, lie flat on the floor with your lower back pressed into the ground and your arms at your sides. Lift your legs in the air by tightening your abdominal muscles and lower them back to the ground. Repeat this exercise for multiple repetitions and sets if you are able to.

(3) Planks
Planks are a great way to tone your abdomen, core, and back. To do a plank, move into a push up position with your hands under your shoulders and holding your arms straight. Hold this pose while keeping your core tight and avoid letting your hips drop. Try to hold this pose for at least 30 seconds if you are able to.

(4) Other Exercises
While other exercises tighten your abdominal muscles by targeting them directly, you can also strengthen them with other types of workouts. Using a stability ball or doing other stability exercises often uses multiple muscle groups at once, forcing you to engage your abdomen and maintain a tight core. Other options include yoga and pilates workouts.



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