Tummy Tuck Recovery: 5 Key Milestones You Need to Know
If you’re considering a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), understanding the recovery process is just as important as knowing the benefits. Whether you're doing it for aesthetic reasons or to restore your core after weight loss or pregnancy, here's a clear, no-fluff guide to what you can expect during recovery — based on real timelines and what surgeons want you to know.
1. Week 1: Rest, Swelling, and Support
The first week is all about rest, pain control, and reducing swelling. You’ll likely be wearing a compression garment and may have drainage tubes in place. Standing fully upright may be difficult at first — walking slightly hunched is common.
Plan for:
Time off work
Support at home
Gentle movement to avoid blood clots
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, this is the most important time to follow your surgeon’s aftercare plan closely.
2. Weeks 2–3: Light Activity Returns
Most patients begin feeling better and more mobile during the second and third weeks. Stitches and drains are usually removed by this point, and you may return to desk work or other light tasks.
Still, no exercise, lifting, or straining — and continue wearing your compression garment 24/7 unless instructed otherwise.
For details on what this surgery involves, visit our tummy tuck procedure page.
3. Weeks 4–6: Life Feels More Normal
At this stage, swelling starts to subside, and you’ll begin to feel more like yourself. Light exercise like walking can usually resume, but core and abdominal workouts are still off-limits unless cleared by your surgeon.
You may switch to wearing your compression garment part-time based on healing progress. Scars are still red or pink but will begin fading over time.
Interested in full-body changes? See how a mommy makeover combines procedures like tummy tuck and breast enhancement for dramatic results.
4. Weeks 6–8: Returning to Exercise
With your surgeon’s approval, you can begin easing into workouts again — including gentle core training. By now, internal sutures are stronger, and the risk of complications is lower.
However, if your recovery is slower (due to age, BMI, or other factors), your provider may recommend waiting a bit longer.
Want to read a clinical perspective? The Cleveland Clinic offers helpful guidance on what healing can look like for different body types.
5. 3–6 Months: Long-Term Results Settle In
Around the 3-month mark, the swelling is mostly gone and your final results begin to take shape. Scars will continue to fade over the next year. You should be back to your normal lifestyle — but now with a flatter, tighter midsection.
To protect your investment:
Stay active
Maintain a healthy weight
Stay hydrated and use scar creams if advised
Here at Adonis, our board certifid plastic surgeons also offer tummy tuck scar revision if needed down the road. To book your free consultation, simply visit our appointment page, or text us at (310) 402-2314.
