Question:
TummyTuck recovery

Can someone tell me how long it usually takes to heal from a tummy tuck? How long is someone usually out of work? I am Pre-op LAPRNY.. I know I have a long way off, but, I was just wondering about this. I have a sit down job, will that make a difference? Thanks.. :-)    — KellyJeanB (posted on January 13, 2003)

January 13, 2003
I had a tt/lipo seven weeks ago. If I were working, I would have had to have taken a month off. I had three drainage tubes in my abdomen for that month. At seven weeks out I am still swollen, still have to wear the compression garment, but feel good. It does make a difference if you have a sit down job or not. My surgeon was sure to ask this.
   — twenc

January 13, 2003
2 weeks off would have been plenty for mine. I had my drainage tubes taken out after 10 days and felt fine a day or two after surgery.
   — Patty H.

January 13, 2003
I had a panniculectomy and brachioplasty (armlift) last November after having had a lap RNY in 2000. Remember that a panniculectomy is the removal of excess skin and fat only....no work on the underlying muscles...so generally less uncomfortable than an abdominoplasty which involves tightening of muscle layers and possible hernia repairs. I thought that this was the easiest "open" surgery I have ever had even though I had the large "anchor incision", which is a long vertical incision from breastbone to pubic area with a smiley-face incision hip-to-hip. I went back to a full-time office position in 10 days with all four drains still in place. The drains were absolutely painless and the only problem was strategically pinning them to my underwear so that they were not obvious under my clothes :-) My plastic surgeon does not subscribe to the use of compression garments, so I can't speak to the pros and cons of that. A year later, I still have a wonderfully flat and firm tummy, truly lovely arms, and couldn't be happier with my results. I could only wish you the same great results!
   — Diana T.

January 13, 2003
I am having a abdominoplasty AND lower body lift next week and will be taking three weeks off. I have a desk job, but travel to work by the railroad and two subways each day. It's a ton of stair climbing and awful, pushy people stuffed in like sardines and bumping each other around. If I was driving to the office, I might go back in two weeks.
   — PaulaM