How Long Will I Be Hunched Over After Tummy Tuck
The recovery from a tummy tuck is dependent on the size of the surgery and how your body responds to the operation. The goal is to separate the internal abdominal muscles from their attachment to your hip bones. This allows for more laxity in the abdominal wall, which results in a smaller-looking abdomen.
In this guide, we review How Long Will I Be Hunched Over After Tummy Tuck, symptoms of muscle separation after tummy tuck, pulling sensation after tummy tuck, and does feeling come back after tummy tuck.
How Long Will I Be Hunched Over After Tummy Tuck
The time it will take for you to recover from a tummy tuck depends on the extent of your procedure and how much pain you can tolerate. Ideally, you’ll be able to return to work within two weeks of surgery, but most patients are unable to resume strenuous physical activity for at least six weeks. However, if you feel up to it sooner than that then go ahead! Just keep in mind that working out too quickly after surgery could lead to complications such as infections or blood clots.
How Long Will I Be Hunched Over After Tummy Tuck?
How long will I be hunched over after tummy tuck?
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, your hunching is a fairly normal part of recovery and should go away within six weeks or so. The hunching is a direct result of your pain level, which may be so high that you find it hard to straighten your back without pain. It can also happen as a result of an infection or complications during surgery. If you’re not sure whether or not this discomfort is normal, ask your surgeon about it!
A tummy tuck is a procedure designed to remove excess skin, fat and tissue from the abdomen and to tighten the muscles in the core. This is beneficial for patients that have trouble achieving their desired results through dieting and exercise alone.
A tummy tuck is a procedure designed to remove excess skin, fat and tissue from the abdomen and to tighten the muscles in the core. This is beneficial for patients that have trouble achieving their desired results through dieting and exercise alone.
Tummy tucks are performed under general anesthesia, which means that you will be unconscious during the procedure. A surgeon will make small incisions at each side of your navel, removing excess skin and tissue while leaving a thin layer over your abdominal muscles so they don’t move apart during recovery. The result is tighter skin with an improved appearance, especially when viewed from above or below your waistline (please note: this does not result in any significant increase in size).
The benefits of having this type of surgery include:
- Improved physical appearance – You’ll have less loose skin hanging around everywhere, which may help with self-esteem issues related to aging;
- Improved posture – You’ll stand taller since there’s no longer anything pulling down on your belly button;
- Reduced risk of infection or complications – Since there’s minimal scarring involved (because most wounds are closed internally), it’s much easier for doctors to spot problems before they become serious issues;
Ideally, tummy tuck patients will be able to enjoy their contoured abdominal profile after a full recovery. But just how long does that take?
It’s important to remember that how long you will be hunched over after a tummy tuck depends on the extent of your procedure, as well as numerous other factors.
The recovery process can take anywhere from two weeks to a month and a half, depending on how long it takes for your body to heal following surgery. It also depends on how much pain you’re able to tolerate during the healing process. The more pain you experience, the longer it will take for your body to recover from this type of surgical procedure. Your doctor may prescribe medication or recommend physical therapy exercises in order for you to heal faster and avoid excessive strain on any damaged tissues or muscles that might still be feeling sore after surgery has concluded.
In terms of height loss due to posture changes associated with this operation (such as increased lordosis), some patients report losing up to an inch per week during their first three months following tummy tuck surgery; however, this figure varies wildly depending on individual factors such as age and genetics as well as overall activity levels before going into surgery—so if one patient loses 1/2 inch per week after six months while another loses 7/8ths inch per week after only one month!
The short answer is six weeks or so, but there are many factors that contribute to how long it takes for your body to recover from this surgery. Let’s discuss some of them.
The short answer is six weeks or so, but there are many factors that contribute to how long it takes for your body to recover from this surgery. Let’s discuss some of them.
Tummy tuck surgery is a major procedure, and the recovery period can last up to 6 weeks—the length of time varies depending on the extent of the procedure and your personal pain tolerance level.
After having this procedure done, you may need assistance in walking and getting back into bed or sitting up straight if you have a large amount of swelling in your abdomen area. This condition is normal after any type of tummy tuck surgery because it takes time for your body to heal completely following surgery.
Pain Level
The pain level after a tummy tuck depends on the extent of the surgery, your pain threshold and tolerance, and your family history of pain sensitivity.
Tummy Tuck Pain:
- Mild to moderate discomfort – you may feel soreness or tightness for a couple of days following surgery. As long as you are using your prescribed medications as directed by your doctor, this discomfort should not last longer than expected. You might also have some bruising around your incision line that lasts for several weeks after surgery.
- Moderate to severe discomfort – depending on how much skin was removed during surgery, you may experience more intense pain after having a tummy tuck than most patients do post-op (even though it’s still considered “mild” compared to other cosmetic procedures). It will likely take longer for any swelling or bruising surrounding the incision site to subside following an extended tummy tuck procedure than it would for someone who had less skin removed during their procedure; if there is significant swelling in this area soon after having this type of plastic surgery done then most likely there was too much tissue removed from behind each side’s waistline area where there shouldn’t be any extra fat deposits present anyway so maybe think twice before going under knife again?
The amount of discomfort you feel after surgery is going to depend on your pain threshold and the extent of your procedure. More extensive surgeries such as a circumferential tummy tuck will require longer recovery periods than minor touch ups.
The amount of discomfort you feel after surgery is going to depend on your pain threshold and the extent of your procedure. More extensive surgeries such as a circumferential tummy tuck will require longer recovery periods than minor touch ups.
You should expect some discomfort after your tummy tuck, but it shouldn’t be debilitating or cause you to miss out on important daily activities for too long. If you’re experiencing more severe pain than expected, talk to your doctor about ways you can manage it until the healing process is complete.
In general, most patients can expect to experience pain and swelling within the first week after surgery, if not longer. It is important not to drive or operate machinery during this time until you feel comfortable moving normally without pain medication. Your doctor should provide you with detailed instructions regarding when you can resume these activities.
In general, most patients can expect to experience pain and swelling within the first week after surgery, if not longer. It is important not to drive or operate machinery during this time until you feel comfortable moving normally without pain medication. Your doctor should provide you with detailed instructions regarding when you can resume these activities.
Pain medication (as prescribed by your physician) may help alleviate any discomfort during recovery. However, it is important that you follow his or her specific recommendations for using these drugs because certain medications may increase the risk of bleeding or other complications in the days following surgery.
If you feel moderate to severe pain in the area of incision, contact your doctor right away as this could be a sign of an infection or other complication.
If you feel moderate to severe pain in the area of incision, contact your doctor right away as this could be a sign of an infection or other complication.
You should also contact your doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms: fever and chills, redness or swelling around the incision, draining from the incision site with pus-like material that smells bad (this may indicate an infection), pain that is getting worse instead of better, prolonged bleeding from any parts of your body (such as nosebleeds).
Activities Performed During Surgery
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
A doctor will make an incision along the bikini line and remove excess skin, fat, and any excess tissue that has built up around your abdominal muscles. The doctor will then tighten those muscles so they look more taut after losing their elasticity due to pregnancy or aging. Finally, the doctor will close your incision with sutures or staples and dressings to protect it while it heals.
symptoms of muscle separation after tummy tuck
What is diastasis recti?
Diastasis recti is a physical complication that usually happens after pregnancy, affecting more than half of women. Diagnoses can occur in the later stages of pregnancy or sometimes after delivery. There are several other names for diastasis recti including;
The condition happens as a result of the separation of the rectus abdominis muscle. The rectus abdominis muscle is the large muscle that extends along with the height of your belly. It has a right part and a left part, separated by a narrow band of tough collagenous tissue called “linea alba” that runs along your midline. When the linea alba becomes weak, thin, and wide, usually in the aftermath of pregnancy, the right and left parts of the rectus abdominis to become too far apart with a soft gap in between. The gap along the midline of your belly can be small or can extend along the whole midline of your abdomen. This makes your belly bulge forward (like a balloon), and can cause many problems like; a hernia, incontinence, and back pain, all of which can be treated with a tummy tuck.
What is the cause of rectus diastasis?
The main cause of rectus divarication is pregnancy and childbirth. During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through a lot of hormonal and physical changes. The uterus grows and becomes massive to accommodate the developing fetus, pushing your organs away and stretching your abdomen in all directions. To help the muscles relax and stretch more, your placenta and ovaries also produce a hormone called “relaxin” in addition to progesterone.
Things don’t usually go back to how they were before pregnancy. In many women, the linea alba becomes irreversibly overstretched, and a soft gap in the middle of the abdomen between the ab muscles will develop. Abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) with muscle repair restores the integrity of the rectus abdominis, tightens your belly, and removes all the excess skin.
What problems does diastasis recti cause?
The problems and symptoms of diastasis recti are not purely cosmetic. Rectus divarication can cause a variety of aesthetic and functional problems, such as;
Bulging
The most common symptom of rectus diastasis is a bulging belly. Women who have separated tummy muscles usually complain of an obvious protrusion above, below, or all-around their belly button. In some women, the soft gap between the muscles becomes so wide that bulging can reach the size of a football.
Hernia
Your abdominal cavity is usually well protected and contained by your tough abdominal wall, which includes the rectus abdominis and the linea alba. Women who have rectus divarication have a very weak and stretched linea alba. In some of these women, the linea alba may rupture. When this happens, intestines and abdominal fat can slide through the defect and push up from under your skin. This is what doctors call a hernia.
A very common site of hernia is through the umbilicus (In many women, the belly button becomes “an outie” after giving birth, and this is usually a hernia). In such cases, the Rectus diastasis and hernia repair can be done simultaneously.
Hernias can cause many problems. If a bowel loop gets stuck in the defect, you can develop intestinal obstruction, which is a medical emergency that requires immediate surgery. This is why it is important to consult a surgeon if you suspect that you have ab separation or a hernia.
Lower back pain
One of the symptoms of diastasis recti is lower back pain. The rectus abdominis muscle is a crucial part of your core muscles; the muscles largely responsible for balance and posture. Rectus divarication weakens the rectus abdominis muscle and puts more stress on your back muscles which contract disproportionately to make up for the imbalance. This abnormal straining of the back muscles can cause chronic lower back pain. Fortunately, a tummy tuck with muscle repair can help improve back pain post-pregnancy.
Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is not uncommon after pregnancy and childbirth. Weak abdominal muscles and a weak pelvic floor are usually the cause of incontinence in women after pregnancy. Many women tend to use pads to avoid leaking urine when laughing, sneezing, or exercising. Abdominoplasty may help treat urinary incontinence after pregnancy. According to a 2018 study published in the journal of The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), diastasis recti repair during a tummy tuck can significantly reduce incontinence.
Digestive problems
Rectus divarication can allow your intestines to move around inside your abdomen in ways they’re not meant to. This can lead to gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation and abdominal discomfort. If you have a hernia, the bowel loops can get stuck in the defect every now and then. This can cause both pain and constipation. If a loop gets stuck and doesn’t go back in, you risk developing a bowel obstruction. If this occurs you will need immediate surgery.
How do you treat rectus divarication?
Occasionally, rectus diastasis can improve without any intervention as your body recovers after pregnancy. For most women, however, this is not the case. One non-surgical way to treat diastasis recti is through physiotherapy. Special focused exercises with a certified physiotherapist can reduce tummy muscle separation and improve your bulging belly, however, this is not usually very effective.
The best and most effective way to treat diastasis recti is surgery. Diastasis recti surgery can permanently close the defect and bring the two sides of the rectus abdominis muscle tight together. Diastasis recti repair is usually done during abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) and not alone. A tummy tuck will strengthen your abdominal wall, remove the excess skin, and tighten your belly, all in one procedure. If you happen to have a hernia as well, Dr Rubinstein will also repair it during surgery.
Tummy tuck surgery has been shown to be effective in treating urinary incontinence and back pain after pregnancy. Moreover, abdominoplasty aims to restore your pre-pregnancy body by removing all the excess saggy skin. Liposuction can also be done during the same procedure to sculpt your body and remove the stubborn fat around your belly.
Can you get diastasis recti surgery without a tummy tuck?
Theoretically, yes you can, however, in practice, rectus repair is mostly done as part of a full tummy tuck. Nearly all women who have separation of the rectus abdominis muscle also have stretched tummy skin, lower belly fat, and excess tissue all over the abdomen. Diastasis recti surgery alone does not address the saggy abdominal skin and excess fat. This is why the vast majority of women choose to have the full abdominoplasty procedure, as they get the full cosmetic benefit of the surgery.
Who’s a good candidate for a tummy tuck?
Abdominoplasty is an invasive surgical procedure, and there are several factors that play a role in reducing complications and determining the quality of the outcomes. You’re a good candidate for a tummy tuck if:
What are the benefits of diastasis recti repair surgery?
Diastasis recti repair surgery does not only improve aesthetics – it has functional benefits as well. Some of the benefits of a tummy tuck with muscle repair are:
How is diastasis recti surgery performed?
The procedure usually takes 2-4 hours to complete. You can choose to combine liposuction with a tummy tuck to further contour the abdomen and hips.
What to expect during recovery from rectus diastasis surgery?
After your surgery, you will be sent to your hospital room to recover, you might spend a night at the hospital for monitoring and be discharged the next day. You might notice one or two surgical drains coming out from your wounds to allow the fluid to drain away. These may be kept for a few days after you are discharged and will be removed later in the clinic.
Since diastasis recti surgery involves muscle repair, you should expect some muscle soreness and pain for the first few days after your surgery. Your wounds will also show some swelling and bruising. These symptoms might take up to 2 weeks to subside. During this period you should rest and avoid moderate physical activity. Recovery time after rectus diastasis repair can take up to 6 weeks, after which you can usually resume your normal activities and get back to work. You will also need to wear compressive abdominal garments during this period.
Does rectus diastasis repair leave a scar?
Like any other surgery, abdominoplasty with muscle repair leaves a thin scar. The scar will be located along your bikini line, which means that it can be well hidden under your underwear. You can wear a swimsuit without worrying about your scar. We also offer several post-operative treatments to reduce scarring after surgery.
pulling sensation 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).
does feeling come back after tummy tuck
If you have a tummy tuck, you will notice that your abdomen feels numb after the procedure. For those who are still considering a tummy tuck, then you need to understand that your abdomen will be numb and will take months to recover.
You may wonder why a tummy tuck makes your abdomen numb. The reason for this is during a tummy tuck procedure, the surgeon has to make a cut in the lower abdomen and then lift the skin from the abdomen. When the skin is lifted, it essentially causes the nerves to separate. This causes the numbness because if you look at the anatomy of the abdomen, the nerves that supply sensation to the abdomen comes from the top and also through the muscles of the abdomen, and then they go up towards the skin. So when the surgeon makes the incision, these nerves that supply sensation to the abdomen, particularly in the lower half, are damaged. This is inevitable because the nerves are too small for the surgeon to see and avoid slicing through. Thus, sensation of the abdomen will be compromised. Consequently, you have to be careful after a tummy tuck because you may not even realize if you are injured in that area.
With that said, you will eventually regain back the feeling in your surgical area because the nerves will regenerate. Patients recover sensation after surgery, but there might be small areas in your abdomen that will have complete loss of sensation permanently.
It takes months for the numbness to subside because nerves grow about an inch per month. So imagine that the incision the distance to the area that is numb is 6 inches long, then it is going to take 6 months for that particular area to regain the sensation.
Having loss of sensation in the abdomen after surgery is normal and it is something that you need to expect. You just have to be patient. However, you should also be aware that in some cases, patients never gain back sensation in certain areas.