Many San Diego men and women who decide to get a tummy tuck surgery are doing so because they want to either regain their former, more contoured shape, or because they have a new commitment to their health. Therefore, one of the common questions that Dr. Kaweski receives from her tummy tuck patients is about abdominal exercises. When is it safe to resume them? And what type of exercises are best for a post-op tummy tuck patient?
STEP 1
A tummy tuck is a major abdominal surgery for a San Diego patient, especially if he or she had separated abdominal muscles repaired, meaning he or she has sutures in their abdominal muscles. Dr. Kaweski recommends that the first step towards returning to exercise post tummy tuck is to get up on your feet, typically the day after your surgery. About one week out, you should be able to walk outside of your home. If you find that, during this timeframe, you are having difficulty performing these tasks, make sure to contact Dr. Kaweski’s office.
STEP 2
While not an exercise, the next step for San Diego tummy tuck patients’ recovery process is to get behind the wheel of their cars. Dr. Kaweski usually recommends this after about 2 weeks post-op, as long as you either are no longer taking your pain medications to avoid the side effects like drowsiness which make it difficult for you to operate heavy machinery like a car.
STEP 3
About 6 weeks after your tummy tuck surgery, San Diego patients can return to the gym to perform light exercises. These include calisthenics, cardio and easy weight-lifting. Just make sure you don’t overdo it. And if you experience any pain in your abdomen while performing these exercises, stop right away and avoid for several days. Then try to restart the activity.
STEP 4
About 3 months after your San Diego tummy tuck, you can start trying to tone your abs with exercises like sit-ups, crunches, and planks. Again, take it easy at first. If you notice an unnecessary amount of pain associated with these activities, you’ll want to stop immediately and see Dr. Kaweski at the Aesthetic Arts Institute of Plastic Surgery to determine if you are experiencing any complications from your surgery.
The important thing for San Diego tummy tuck patients to remember is that the steps mentioned above are just recommendations. Just as every tummy tuck treatment plan is different, everyone will heal differently, and you will need to listen to your body so that you don’t push yourself too hard post-operatively. Dr. Kaweski understands that you want to augment the results of your surgery with proper diet and exercise, but it should happen in due time.
If you have any further questions about getting a tummy tuck or are ready to move forward with getting one, the best thing you can do is speak to Dr. Kaweski herself. Schedule an initial consultation with her today by calling (619) 464-9876.
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