Can’t Stand up Straight After Tummy Tuck

After having a tummy tuck, you will learn that you can’t stand up straight! This can be temporary or permanent, depending on how well your body heals from surgery. This article explains why you can’t stand up straight after abdominal surgery, and some simple things you can do to prevent any permanent changes in your posture.

In this guide, we review the aspects of Can’t stand up straight after tummy tuck, symptoms of muscle separation after tummy tuck, tearing feeling after tummy tuck, and how long will I be hunched over after tummy tuck.

Can’t Stand Straight After Tummy Tuck

A tummy tuck is surgery to remove fat and skin from your belly and to tighten the stomach muscles. It is also called an abdominoplasty. The surgery makes your belly look flatter.

Your belly will be sore and swollen for the first week after surgery. The skin on your stomach will be mostly numb for several weeks to months. Feeling will return slowly. But you may have a small area on your lower stomach that is always numb. Do not use a heating pad on your stomach while it is still numb, or you could have severe burns. 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 come home. You’ll need to get up and walk every day to regain your normal movement. Between walks, move your feet and legs often.

A tummy tuck leaves a long scar that will fade with time. You may may have a small scar around your belly button.

This care sheet gives you a general idea of how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.

How can you care for yourself at home?

Activity

  • Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
  • Try to walk each day. Start by walking a little more than you did the day before. Bit by bit, increase the amount you walk. Walking boosts blood flow and helps prevent pneumonia and constipation.
  • Avoid abdominal exercises and strenuous activities, such as bicycle riding, jogging, weight lifting, or aerobic exercise, for 6 to 8 weeks.
  • For 6 weeks, avoid lifting anything that would make you strain. This may include heavy grocery bags and milk containers, a heavy briefcase or backpack, cat litter or dog food bags, a vacuum cleaner, or a child.
  • Ask your doctor when you can drive again.
  • Most people are able to return to work about 2 to 3 weeks after surgery. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
  • You may shower 24 to 48 hours after surgery, if your doctor okays it. Pat the incision dry. Do not take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
  • Ask your doctor when it is okay to have sex.

Diet

  • You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
  • Drink plenty of fluids (unless your doctor tells you not to).
  • You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements. You may want to take a fibre supplement every day. If you have not had a bowel movement after a couple of days, ask your doctor about taking a mild laxative.

Medicines

  • Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. He or she will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
  • If you take aspirin or some other blood thinner, ask your doctor if and when to start taking it again. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do.
  • Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
    • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
    • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
  • If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
    • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
    • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
  • If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.

Incision care

  • If you have strips of tape on your incision, leave the tape on for a week or until it falls off. Or follow your doctor’s instructions for removing the tape.
  • Wash the area daily with warm, soapy water, and pat it dry. Don’t use hydrogen peroxide or alcohol, which can slow healing.
  • Keep the area clean and dry. You may cover it with a gauze bandage if it weeps or rubs against clothing. Change the bandage every day if your doctor told you to do so.
  • You will probably have one or two drain tubes in place to prevent fluid from building up under the skin of your belly. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of it.

Other instructions

  • Hold a pillow over your incision when you cough or take deep breaths. This will support your belly and decrease your pain.
  • Do breathing exercises at home as instructed by your doctor. This will help prevent pneumonia.
  • You may have a tube (catheter) in your bladder for a few days after surgery. If so, your doctor will tell you how to care for the catheter.

Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It’s also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.

When should you call for help?

Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

  • You passed out (lost consciousness).
  • You have sudden chest pain and shortness of breath, or you cough up blood.
  • You have severe pain in your belly.

Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:

  • You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
  • You have loose stitches, or your incision comes open.
  • You are bleeding from the incision.
  • You have signs of infection, such as:
    • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
    • Red streaks leading from the incision.
    • Pus draining from the incision.
    • A fever.
  • You have signs of a blood clot in your leg (called a deep vein thrombosis), such as:
    • Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin.
    • Redness and swelling in your leg or groin.
  • You are sick to your stomach or cannot keep fluids down.

Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if:

  • You do not get better as expected.

A San Francisco tummy tuck with San Francisco liposuction is a body contouring procedure, not a weight loss procedure per se. To the disappointment of many patients, the scale actually may go up for the first few weeks after surgery. This is due to swelling and inflammation during which the body tends to retain more water than it usually does. It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks before the swelling goes down significantly, and with it the scale goes down too.

Because of the swelling, your pre-surgery clothes may feel a little snug. As the swelling dissipates, you’ll be happy to find that your clothes may now be too loose! My advice is to be patient, as this is a process and it may take 3 to 6 months, sometimes even up to a year for the swelling to resolve completely.

YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO STAND UP STRAIGHT FOR A WHILE

During tummy tuck surgery, your muscles are tightened and excess skin is removed. There are multiple layers of sutures inside holding everything in its new configuration. Because skin is pulled taut, you’ll be bent over for the first week or two until the skin begins to relax and you can stand up. You may feel achiness or soreness in your lower back from being bent over and from spending a lot of time in bed. Here are some things that can help:

  • Rest in a beach chair position. Although it may not be as fun as sitting on a real beach, it’ll be a comfortable way for you to rest. This means having your back elevated, and your hips flexed by placing pillows under your knees.
  • Ben-Gay and Icy Hot can ease the achiness in your lower back. Be careful when using heating pads because your skin may be numb and you may not feel it get too hot!

YOU’LL BE IN PAIN, BUT IT CAN BE MANAGED!

Pain after a tummy tuck, especially during the first 7-10 days, is normal and to be expected. Your San Francisco plastic surgeon will prescribe narcotic pain medications, as well as muscle relaxants to help you through the process. In my practice, I also use non-narcotic medications to help reduce overall pain. Other medications such as Exparel can be used during surgery to reduce your overall pain significantly for the first 2 to 3 days after surgery. There is an extra cost for Exparel, but I think it’s well worth the cost for the comfort it brings.

One issue with narcotic pain medications is that they may make you feel “out of it” and will surely make you constipated. Straining to go to the bathroom will be the last thing you want to put your newly tightened and very sore ab muscles through, so it’s a good idea to have a stool softener on hand such as Miralax or milk of magnesia. Both of these can be purchased over the counter.

My biggest pain management tip is to stay on top of your pain meds. Don’t wait for the pain to start before taking your next dose. Set a timer and take your medications as directed, and always take pain medications with food to avoid an upset stomach.

YOU’LL NEED LOTS OF HELP AROUND THE HOUSE FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS

It’ll be the difficult the first week to do even the most basic things for yourself. You will need an adult to help you with everything- preparing meals, getting in and out of bed, getting dressed, and washed. After surgery is your time to recover so let whoever is with you help as much as you need. Even though you may be used to doing most things around the house, this is your time to relax and focus on your recovery!

Most women coming in for a tummy tuck have kids at home who need help too. You should arrange for adequate help take care of your kids, and don’t forget about your pets!

YOUR FIRST SHOWER WILL BE HARDER THAN EXPECTED

You’ll need to wait at least 3 days before taking your first shower. Once you’re ready to take a shower, you may realize that it’s not as easy as you thought! It’ll be difficult to reach some areas on your body because you’ll be sore and feel tight. You will probably need help getting in and out of your compression binder, and on top of this you’ll still feel very tired.

Some things that you can do to help with your showers are:

  • Place your toiletries and shower items in an easy to reach places prior to surgery
  • Buy a cheap plastic lawn chair or a shower stool to sit on when you feel tired
  • Have a cold drink with electrolytes nearby to sip on in case you feel light headed
  • Get back into your binder as soon as you can to keep the swelling down

EXPECT EMOTIONAL SWINGS

A tummy tuck is a huge surgery! Combine that with feeling loopy from narcotics, feeling sore or in pain, and you may find yourself experiencing several different emotions in the span of a few minutes.

  • You may feel depressed, sad and regretful
  • You may have feelings of unattractiveness
  • You may feel frustrated by the healing process

This is totally, and completely normal! There is nothing wrong with you, and these feelings are temporary. So if you get the post surgery blues, here are some things that you can do:

  • Let your spouse/significant other/caregiver know ahead of time so they can remember to not take things personally and to help remind you to keep your chin up!
  • Remind yourself that these feelings are only temporary. Every day will get easier and easier. This too shall pass.
  • Look for support from other woman going through the same healing journey. You can connect online with others who have had tummy tucks on forums such as RealSelf or Reddit.

BE PREPARED FOR SWELLING. LOTS OF SWELLING.

You’ll have a love hate relationship with your compression garments.

The one thing that annoys people the most after surgery is the swelling! Some even refer to it as “swell hell”. Swelling and inflammation is the natural process the body goes through to heal. If you had a San Francisco liposuction procedure in the past in addition to your tummy tuck, then you may experience even more intense swelling. The swelling will get worse for the first 3-5 days after surgery before it begins to slowly subside. Remember, it may take 6-8 weeks before you notice an appreciable improvement in the swelling.

Many of my patients also report the sensation of itching as the swelling goes down. This occurs because the nerves in the area start working again, bringing new yet annoying sensations to the skin.

Here are some tips to keep the swelling at bay:

  • Keep your compression garment on: It may at times be uncomfortable, but it helps to reduce swelling
  • Make sure to stay hydrated: drinking plenty of water actually helps the body to heal and reduce the swelling.
  • Drink a protein shake 1-2 times per day: Protein helps to pull water from the skin into the circulation so it can be excreted. It also helps with the overall healing process!
  • Get up and take a short walk: Walking causes your muscles to squeeze blood vessels, improving your overall circulation

YOU’LL BE SUPER FATIGUED

You’re recovering from a major surgery! Women who are usually ok staying up late will find themselves needing to get to sleep around 730pm. It’s ok, let yourself sleep when you need to. You will heal best when you’re allowed to rest. The energy that your body will use in healing can also make you feel sleepy, too.

Even though you’ll be really tired, it’s best to force yourself to get up and take short walks throughout the day. You may however find that if you’re active one day, you’ll be extra tired the next day. Surgery can cause you to not have much of an appetite, further contributing to the feelings of fatigue. Make sure you’re eating and drinking to keep your energy levels up!

YOU WON’T BE ABLE TO DRIVE FOR 10 -14 DAYS.

You also shouldn’t be operating other heavy machinery. Because you will likely be on narcotic pain medications after surgery, it’s best to let someone else drive you to important appointments and places. You can go back to driving when you’re no longer taking prescription pain medications and when you feel as though you can react and respond safely if there were an emergency while driving. This is your time to relax and let others chauffeur you places.

IT’LL TAKE UP TO A YEAR TO FEEL TOTALLY BACK TO YOURSELF

Most of the swelling, pain, and fatigue resolves by weeks 6-8, but you’ll notice continuing changes for up to one year. There are many sutures inside which will cause a pulling and pinching sensation for 3-4 months. As these dissolve those sensations should as well.

Areas treated will also be numb. As the swelling resolves, these sensations should slowly return back to normal.

It takes your incision a year to totally heal. It’s normal for the incision to look red from 3-6 months. This redness is from the body putting new blood vessels in the area to help the healing process. Incisions general fade between months 6-12.

As your energy comes back and the feelings of tightness fade, you’ll find yourself feeling more like you’re back to “normal.” Remember, this is a process that takes time, so be a patient patient.

Warning Signs After Tummy Tuck

Undergoing a tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, is a major surgical procedure that involves removing excess skin and fat from the abdomen to create a smoother and firmer profile. While tummy tucks are generally safe, there are certain warning signs that patients should be aware of post-surgery. It is important to monitor these signs closely and seek medical attention if any of them occur.

Common Warning Signs After Tummy Tuck

After a tummy tuck procedure, patients may experience some discomfort and swelling, which is normal. However, there are certain warning signs that should not be ignored. These include:

  • Excessive bleeding

  • Severe pain that is not relieved by medication

  • Signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, or pus at the incision site

  • Difficulty breathing or chest pain

  • High fever

  • Unusual drainage from the incision site

When to Seek Medical Attention

If you experience any of the warning signs mentioned above after a tummy tuck, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. These symptoms could indicate a serious complication that requires prompt treatment. Delaying medical care could lead to further complications and prolong the recovery process.

Preventing Complications After Tummy Tuck

While some complications after a tummy tuck are unavoidable, there are steps that patients can take to reduce their risk. These include:

  • Follow your surgeon’s post-operative instructions carefully
  • Avoid strenuous activities and heavy lifting during the initial recovery period
  • Keep the incision site clean and dry to prevent infection
  • Attend all follow-up appointments with your surgeon
  • Stay hydrated and eat a healthy diet to support the healing process

tearing feeling after tummy tuck

Tummy tuck surgery – also known as abdominoplasty – is a plastic surgery procedure that removes excess skin and fat and strengthens weakened abdominal muscles to create a firmer and smoother abdominal profile. Abdominoplasty is one of the more popular cosmetic surgeries. In 2019, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that there were more than 123,000 of these procedures in the US.

If you have had a tummy tuck – or are considering getting one, it is very important that you understand the side effects that are involved, risks of the procedure, as well as what outcome to expect. Your plastic surgeon will give you most of the information you need during the initial consultation visit, but it is your responsibility to learn as much as you can about what a tummy tuck entails. This article explores the tummy tuck recovery journey and explains the common complaint of having a hard stomach after a tummy tuck.

Overview of The Tummy Tuck Surgery

Abdominoplasty surgery is designed to tighten up loose skin, tissues, and muscles in the belly region, particularly for patients who are not getting the desired benefit from diet and exercise. Whether you are looking to alleviate a sagging belly pooch or have a plus size tummy tuck, Dr. LaBarbera has 3 different procedure types to suit the varying needs of his patients. These include:

The incision pattern used by your surgeon during surgery will depend on the type of procedure being performed. Plastic surgeons usually keep incisions to a minimum and make sure to conceal them along the natural folds of the skin. Once the incisions are created, the surgeon will lift up and tighten the skin and underlying tissue before suturing them into place. For patients who have excess fat in the belly area, the surgeon may also use liposuction in order to achieve the desired procedure outcome. Since tummy tuck is an outpatient plastic surgery procedure, patients are allowed to go home on the same day as the surgery.

Tummy Tuck Recovery Timeline

Immediately after the surgery, tummy tuck patients are taken into the surgeon’s recovery room for further monitoring before they are allowed to go home. It is important to have someone to drive you home and help out with basic chores while you recover from the surgery.

Abdominoplasty patients often have drainage tubes that are used to relieve excess fluid from the treatment area. These need to be emptied, and the amount of fluid drained from the wound each day should be recorded. Your mobility will be limited during the first few days. Dr. LaBarbera recommends that you take a light walk as soon as you are able to in order to improve blood flow.

Many patients experience tightness around their belly and you will have to walk while hunched over for a week or two. Your incisions will likely feel sore over the first week. You may need to lie in bed at an angle, and you likely will have problems with standing, lifting things, and general movements.

Tuck tuck patients are able to resume work after about a month, particularly if they have a physically demanding job. However, you will be able to engage in routine daily activities within 1-2 weeks. Scarring is usually a major concern for patients who have just had a tummy tuck, but fades with time. Your surgeon may also recommend scar care ointments to help improve the appearance of your surgical scars.

What Causes a Pulling Feeling After a Tummy Tuck?

Abdominoplasty – just like any other surgical procedure – entails cutting into the body. This naturally leads to some nerve damage. Many abdominoplasty patients experience numbness over the lower abdominal area after tummy tuck due to the damaged nerves in the area. With time – as the nerves start to regenerate their proper pathways – the patient will start to experience gradual return of sensation.

Tummy tuck patients may also experience a tight feeling in their belly because the skin has been cut and put back together. More so, muscle tightening during the surgery can lead to a hardened tissue sensation during recovery.

Although you may feel worried about this tightness and pulling sensation, keep in mind that it is a normal part of the healing process. The majority of people who had an abdominoplasty can experience these side effects for up to 12 weeks post-op. In some cases, it takes up to 12 months for the nerves in the abdominal area to properly heal. Once the nerves regain their usual sensory function, it is highly unlikely that this kind of discomfort will return.

What is the treatment for hardened tissue after tummy tuck?

Nerve regeneration is a natural process that follows its own natural timeline. However, you may be able to quicken this process by taking part in the retraining process. Dr. LaBarbera recommends that you gently rub items of different textures across your abdomen. This may include such things as loofahs, washcloths, lotion, and cotton. The goal is to stimulate the nerves to find their proper pathways and heal much quicker. For patients with severe cases of nerve discomfort, the surgeon may recommend medications such as Neurontin. Make sure that you have explicit instructions and a prescription from your doctor before using medication to treat discomfort and a pulling sensation after abdominoplasty.

Tummy tuck recovery tips / FAQs

Now that you know what causes a hard stomach after a tummy tuck, below are some other commonly asked questions to improve your understanding of the recovery process:

When will I feel normal after abdominoplasty surgery?

Most patients feel groggy immediately after tummy tuck surgery, due to the anesthesia. There will also be post-op pain and bruising over the first 1-2 weeks. This pain can be alleviated using a medication, and the discomfort will improve each day. Over the first 2-3 weeks, you will be limited to light activities and may be able to return to a desk job. The average duration for people who have just had an abdominoplasty to feel normal again is 4-6 weeks. Keep in mind though that the precise healing duration will vary from one person to another depending on the type of tummy tuck they had, their age, the kind of post-op care they receive, and their general health.

How long will I be hunched over after tummy tuck?

You will be unable to stand up straight after a tummy tuck procedure. In fact, the surgeon will ask that you stay in a hunched over position in order to keep the treatment area intact. How long you need to stay in this position varies depending on whom you ask. Dr. LaBarbera recommends that his patients hunch over for 1-2 weeks (until they get a green light from him). Once you are allowed to straighten back up, this should be done gently and gradually until you regain your normal, upright posture.

How long will swelling last after a tummy tuck?

Swelling is a natural aspect of the body’s healing process as fluid collects around the treatment site in order to protect the healing tissues. Plastic surgeons often insert drains to drain away excess fluid and relieve pressure from your belly. These are typically removed after 10-14 days, depending on your progress. Once this is done, slight swelling may still persist for weeks or even months – obscuring the outcome of your tummy tuck. Following your surgeon’s instructions is important to ensure that post-op swelling resolves quickly and that you attain a favorable outcome from the surgery.

When will I see final results?

Following a tummy tuck surgery, the shape of your abdomen will improve gradually with recovery. Most patients are able to see a final impression of their new belly in 6 months. It takes about this long for the pink linear scar resulting from the procedure to fade. Dr. LaBarbera advises his patients to use high-quality scar care products to help quicken the fading of scars. These products should, however, only be used after the incision areas have fully healed (which can take up to a few months).

how long will i be hunched over after tummy tuck

As part of the recovery process, patients will need to hunch or bend over at the waist when walking for about a week after a tummy tuck. This is a temporary precaution, although an understandable concern of prospective patients. 

In this article, we’ll provide more information on hunching over after a tummy tuck, along with tips to help you have a more comfortable recovery. 

Why Do You Need to Walk Hunched Over After Tummy Tuck?

You will be advised to walk hunched over after a tummy tuck for the first week, but patients usually do this out of instinct because the skin and muscle tightening prevents them from straightening up.

Additionally, it’s a more comfortable position, particularly for those who had a tummy tuck with muscle repair, as stretching the abdomen can be painful at the start. 

Recovery One Week After Tummy Tuck

It’s common to feel significant relief one week after a tummy tuck, as you will be able to walk in a more upright position, which places less strain on the back.

Additionally, by this time, the post-surgical swelling will begin to dissipate, enabling patients to resume certain activities. To ensure a smooth recovery, be sure to follow our tummy tuck survival guide and recovery tips.

What to Expect When Straightening After Tummy Tuck

Straightening Happens Gradually

You should bear in mind that you won’t be able to lift yourself into a completely upright position immediately after one week. Rather, straightening after tummy tuck is a slow and gradual process, with most patients recovering their straightened posture in 2-3 weeks. 

Don’t Push Past Uncomfortable

Your body will signal to you the extent to which it can straighten each day, and you shouldn’t force yourself into an upright position if it’s uncomfortable. As not all patients will recover at the same pace, it’s important to listen to your body when recovering. 

Attend Your Follow-Up Appointment

Your first follow-up appointment will be scheduled within 1-2 weeks of the surgery, during which you can raise any concerns about your posture and recovery process. Your surgeon will also assess your incisions to ensure that your scars aren’t impacted as you straighten your posture. 

Don’t Do Any Heavy Lifting

As you recover from a tummy tuck, it’s important to avoid any heavy lifting as this will place strain on the abdomen, which in turn can interfere with the healing of incisions and the formation of scars. Depending on the type of tummy tuck you underwent, you will need to avoid any heavy lifting for 3-8 weeks. 

Sleep While Elevated

Patients are advised to sleep elevated after tummy tuck and on their back when recovering from a tummy tuck, which can be achieved using pillows or a recliner. Sleeping in this position will protect your incisions, avoid straining your abdomen, and will help prevent post-surgical complications. 

Is a Tummy Tuck Worth It?

As with any cosmetic surgery, there are pros and cons to getting a tummy tuck. Overall, most tummy tuck patients consider the procedure worthwhile as it provides a dramatic transformation, particularly after drastic weight loss or pregnancy. Additionally, the surgery provides a range of medical benefits that can improve a patient’s quality of life.