Question:
I am having a tummy tuck on April 4th and was wondering???

I am hoping to go on a camping trip over memorial day weekend. This is totally wilderness camping though. No running water, using the woods as a restroom, sleeping in a tent, etc. Will I be able to go? Or will I have to worry about skin infections and such??    — enjo4 (posted on March 5, 2006)

March 5, 2006
I would let it pass, poor sanitation, weather extreames. and think of what a case of poison ivy would do to you. and the hikeing strain, u could be a damper for the group if u fatique.
   — walter A.

March 5, 2006
The best thing to do would be ask your plastic surgeon. I think it will still be hard to get up and down to sleep on the ground. It took a couple of months before I could sleep comfortably after my tummy tuck.
   — tazfan

March 5, 2006
I would not take the chance. I was off work for two weeks (much less than most), but then I took it easy, even when I just went out shopping or movies. I can't imagine being out camping, and out in the "wilderness" no less.
   — Missy H.

March 5, 2006
I wouldn't plan on it. What a grueling vacation. Everyone is different but I was TOO uncomfortable to do much of anything that soon. I had my surgery June 14, 2005 and I'm still uncomfortable by evening. It's a pretty rough surgery.
   — Kathy C.

March 5, 2006
I had a belt lipectomy (tummy tuck with an incision all the way around to my backbone) on January 17, 2006, by February 20, 2006 I was snorkeling in Acapulco, 100% healed up. In fact after two weeks there were no issues at all with my incision, it was already entirely healed then. By the way, the doctor removed 22 pounds of excess from my stomach and back.
   — kulproof

March 6, 2006
I had a tummy tuck (& breast aug. & lipo on my thighs) 7 weeks ago today. I'm able to resume all normal activity at this point. I wouldn't hesitate to go camping...if I liked that sort of thing, that is, lol! I say go & have a great time!
   — fowlerloriann

March 6, 2006
I had a Tummy Tuck with Lipoplasty and two hernias fixed in 2002. Physically, it really was not a hard recovery, not like WLS was for me. I really felt almost normal after a little over a week, those darn drains drove me bonkers though, had those things in for 2-3 weeks. Pain-wise, you would be more than ready for a trip like that. Recovery-wise as far as whether you are still draining, how your recovery goes, whether or not you need to keep the area sanitized and stuff like that is more what you have to consider in this situation. If it was me, i would play it by ear. If you HAVE to plan ahead of time, i would plan the trip for the next holiday, Like the 4th of July or something. Your doctor and how your recovery are doing are going to be the deciding factors here. Some of us think a TT is not a hard thing, me included, but..... i have spoken to gals who have had the TT and said it was harder than the WLS for them. So, it depends on who you are and how your feeling after surgery. Wish i could help more. good luck, Kim
   — Kimberly Felan