You can have an hourglass figure if you exercise regularly and eat healthily. If these do not work and you still end up with a protruding abdomen, you can consider abdominoplasty, a procedure also known as tummy tuck. Here at RejuVenus Aesthetics, Dr. Cortés performs abdominoplasty in Houston to give patients a flatter and tighter abdomen.
After surgery, it is important to follow the doctor’s instructions carefully. Exercise plays an important role in maintaining your new figure. But when can you start exercising? What activities can you perform as you recover from a tummy tuck?
Here are things to remember when it comes to exercising after surgery.
General Instructions
- Limit your activities to daily routines. Do not lift, push, or pull objects for the first six weeks. These activities put stress and pressure on the treatment area.
- Check with the doctor before going back to your exercise routine and follow instructions religiously.
- Avoid strenuous exercises for six weeks.
Specific Instructions
- Start light walking at the third week post-surgery as instructed by your surgeon. Do not forget to wear the abdominal binder while walking in order to prevent build up of excess fluid.
- Increase the time you spend walking on the fourth week. Your abdominal binder should still be worn.
- At the fifth week, you can go a notch higher. You can try a workout that is more intense but is low impact. Try cardio exercises such as running on a treadmill or using an elliptical machine.
- After six weeks, you can go back to your normal exercise routine. However, there are exceptions you have to keep in mind. Avoid workouts that are high impact such as intense running. Continue using your abdominal binder.
- Higher impact routines like running can begin at the eighth week. Light weight training can also start eight weeks after surgery. Do not focus on the core muscles because it is still healing.
- All of your normal activities can be resumed after three months. This includes abdominal exercises.
Exercise is beneficial to the body. It keeps you healthy, minimizes risks of different health conditions, and helps in maintaining your new body. If you are interested in a tummy tuck or would like to know more about exercising after surgery, request a personal consultation with Dr. Cortés by calling 713-234-6244 or filling out this online contact form. We look forward to hearing from you!