Working out and eating a balanced diet can help you to slim down, but many of us are left with an abdominal area that still doesn’t look the way we want it to, even when we reach our goal weight. People often struggle with diet-resistant fat and skin in the belly area, which can be due to the way our body naturally stores fat, genetics, hormones, and pregnancy. There are different types of plastic surgery in St. Louis that can help you achieve flatter, more sculpted abs, but a tummy tuck is an ideal way to simultaneously remove excess flabby skin and stubborn fat, tighten the remaining tissue, and repair abs that have been weakened or separated. Physicians at West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University recommend incorporating physical exercise after you’ve fully recovered from a tummy tuck to optimize your results.

A tummy tuck won’t automatically give you six-pack abs or prevent you from gaining weight in the future, so it’s important to maintain an exercise routine and a healthy overall lifestyle if your goal is to maintain a muscular, slender appearance. However, while you may be anxious to get started on attaining and flaunting washboard abs after a tummy tuck, patience is critical for those who have this procedure.

Patients will need to take some time for recovery after the operation, and it will be important to get plenty of sleep and rest. This recovery time is essential for the success of the procedure. Immediately after a tummy tuck, patients typically experience weakness, fatigue, swelling, and discomfort—and these sensations can last for several weeks. Some patients may have difficulty standing upright at first.

During this time, getting out of bed and going for light walks on flat surfaces around the house, as well as making small movements like sitting up in bed, are encouraged to improve blood circulation, prevent the formation of blood clots, and speed up healing. Even if you feel like you’re ready for more intense gym workouts, they still aren’t a good idea until weeks have passed. For the first few days after surgery, you may need to have a caregiver around to help you. After the extensive procedure, your body needs time to heal.

Surgeons typically advise patients to wait for several weeks before engaging in more vigorous exercise that involves running, bending, and lifting weights, so it’s best to follow their specific instructions on when it will be safe to start back on routine activities.

Trying to “soldier through it” and doing too much too soon can do more harm than good. Strenuous exercise can place strain on your incisions, raise your heart rate and blood pressure, and even put you at risk for other complications. The swelling could get worse, sutures could be torn open, the sweating could lead to infections, and your aesthetic results may be compromised.

When you do resume exercising, it’s better to start slow and gradually make your workouts more intense rather than jumping into the toughest, high-intensity workouts right away. After roughly six to eight weeks, you may be able to do low-impact cardio such as brisk walks, lifting weights, swimming, and cycling on a stationary bike.

Your strength, balance, and endurance will eventually return, and you’ll feel comfortable doing more, but it may take up to a year for the stomach muscles to be back to their normal strength again, so patients should be particularly cautious about abdominal and back workouts. You may prefer to focus on strengthening the upper body and legs before moving on to the stomach. Typically, after around five months, your doctor will give you permission to include core strengthening exercises to get more chiseled abs via sit-ups, leg lifts, planks, and crunches. It can be helpful to put together a workout plan to strengthen the abdomen.

To get more details on the tummy tuck procedure and other forms of plastic surgery in St. Louis, contact West County Plastic Surgeons of Washington University. Fill out a contact form to tell them more about your goals or call them at (314) 996-8800