Tummy Tuck Recovery: Your Complete Week-by-Week Guide

What tummy tuck recovery actually involves

A tummy tuck is one of the bigger plastic surgery procedures in terms of recovery — bigger than liposuction, bigger than a breast augmentation, comparable to a facelift. The first 2 weeks are physically demanding and the full recovery takes 3–6 months to settle. Patients who understand this going in do well. Patients who expect to "bounce back in a week" struggle.

This guide is what our surgical team actually tells patients the day before surgery. It is not pessimistic — most recoveries are uncomplicated and the long-term results are excellent — but it is honest about each phase.

Days 1–3: the most difficult phase

You wake up from surgery in a compression garment that wraps from mid-thigh to just below the breast. You have one or two drains in place (thin plastic tubes collecting fluid from under the skin). You are slightly folded at the waist because the surgeon repositioned the skin and closed it with moderate tension, and standing fully upright would stress the incision.

You walk within 6–8 hours of surgery — bent at the waist, supported, for short distances to the bathroom. Walking is mandatory to prevent blood clots even though it is uncomfortable. Pain is managed with scheduled medications and is rated 6–7/10 in the first 48 hours, dropping to 4–5 by day 3.

You eat small meals, low-salt, high-protein. You sleep in a semi-reclined position with knees bent — never flat on your back, never on your stomach.

Days 4–7: hospital to hotel, drains out

Day 2 or 3 you leave the hospital for the hotel. The drains are typically removed between days 3 and 7 depending on daily output (usually under 30 ml per 24 hours triggers removal). Having drains out is a major psychological relief; most patients sleep much better afterward.

By day 5 you can shower with the garment off, dry the incision line gently, and put the garment back on. You are still walking bent at the waist but less aggressively. You can manage stairs slowly. Office email is doable from bed; sustained concentration is still hard due to residual medication effects.

Week 2: the stitches come out and you start to stand up

Around day 10–14 the external stitches (if any) come out. You are cleared to fly home, ideally after a final in-clinic check. You can now begin standing slightly more upright each day — the rule is "stand as tall as you comfortably can without pulling the incision".

The compression garment stays on 24/7 for the first 4 weeks, then 12 hours per day for another 4 weeks. No driving until you can perform an emergency stop without pain (usually week 3). Sleeping is still elevated or on your side.

Weeks 3–6: returning to work and normal activity

Week 3 marks the return to sedentary work for most patients. Physical jobs require 4–6 weeks off. You are standing fully upright by week 3. Bruising is mostly gone by week 4. Swelling is still significant — your belly will look bigger than your pre-surgery belly at week 4, which is normal and due to tissue edema, not fat.

Light cardio resumes at week 4: walking up to 30 minutes, stationary bike on low resistance. No abdominal exercises. No heavy lifting (over 5 kg). No running or jumping.

Weeks 6–12: the shape starts to emerge

Between weeks 6 and 12 the swelling drops dramatically. At week 6 you can begin to see the new waistline. At week 8 the scar is red and raised — this is the peak of scar visibility. You start scar massage with silicone gel at week 6–8 and continue for 6 months. This is the single most important thing you can do for the final scar quality.

Full gym workouts including abdominal exercises resume at week 8–10 with your surgeon's clearance. Running at week 10. Sex at week 4 (with positions that avoid pressure on the incision) or week 6 for full activity.

Months 3–6: the scar fades, the shape settles

Between month 3 and month 6 the scar shifts from red to pink to pale. By month 6 it is fully settled in its long-term position and color, though full color maturation takes 12–18 months. Continue silicone gel throughout.

Residual swelling resolves by month 4–6. At month 6 you see your final shape — flat abdomen, restored waistline, tightened skin, repaired abdominal muscle separation (if that was part of the procedure). This is the result you will have long-term if your weight stays stable.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I sleep flat on my back?

Not until week 4–6, and even then gradually. Sleeping semi-reclined with knees bent protects the abdominal incision from tension during the first month. Most patients transition back to flat sleeping at week 6.

When can I exercise after a tummy tuck?

Walking from day 1. Light cardio from week 4. Full gym workouts from week 8–10 with surgeon approval. Abdominal exercises from week 8. Running from week 10–12. Contact sports from week 12.

How long is the scar?

The typical full tummy tuck scar runs from hip to hip, just above the pubic area, and is designed to be hidden under underwear or a bikini bottom. For patients with less excess skin, a mini tummy tuck uses a shorter scar (around half the length) but addresses only the lower abdomen.

Can I combine a tummy tuck with liposuction?

Yes — this is called lipoabdominoplasty and is done routinely. The liposuction refines the waist and flanks while the tummy tuck addresses the loose skin and muscle separation. Recovery is the same as a standard tummy tuck; the combined procedure does not significantly extend the timeline.

What if I get pregnant after a tummy tuck?

Pregnancy after a tummy tuck is safe but will partially compromise the result — the skin stretches again and the muscle repair can loosen. This is why the procedure is recommended for women who have completed their family. If pregnancy happens, a revision tummy tuck is possible after delivery and full postpartum recovery.