If you are used to exercising regularly, the prospect of being unable to indulge in your favorite sport can be daunting. Many active men and women opt for a tummy tuck to fix excess skin or weakened abdominal muscles, and a common question at tummy tuck consultations includes how soon exercise can be resumed.
For the first week after your procedure, you should still be avoiding exercise. During this early healing phase, you’ll still be experiencing some pain or discomfort, as well as swelling and post-op fatigue, so it is important to allow your body sufficient time to recover.
By now, your recovery may be sufficient that you can return to work, depending on what you do for a living. Your compression garments should still be worn and, while you may now take short walks to aid recovery, your tummy tuck is still too recent for exercise to be allowed.
If your recovery is all going according to plan, you may be able to resume light exercise after 3 to 4 weeks post tummy tuck. You should still avoid any particularly strenuous workouts, as well as exercises targeting the abdominal area, such as sits ups or weight lifting.
Walking or stationary cycling can be a good place to start, with more vigorous exercise not recommended until the 6-week mark.
Normal exercise routines should now be possible, although you should be vigilant for any signs that you are pushing your body too far. Start slowly and work your way back to your previous activity level, rather than launching yourself into strenuous activities too soon.
