22 Jul 2025 | by Dr. Tandon
If I had to choose one question at the top of every patient’s mind when it comes to any aesthetic procedure, it would be: “What’s the recovery?”. Time is the thing that most of us can’t seem to find enough of these days. Even if you are that rare person who is not in a constant fight against the sand in the hourglass, no want really wants to spend their time on recovery. However, it is a critical component of your healing process. Obviously, a huge benefit of a non-surgical procedure is that it requires minimal to no downtime. But many body contouring issues may be best resolved with a surgical approach. Women who’ve had children, for example, are almost always going to be better candidates for a surgical tummy tuck as it can address all of the underlying issues that may be causing your dissatisfaction with the appearance of your abdomen in one procedure. The results can be remarkable, but it is a procedure that requires a more significant investment in terms of recovery. So, when a patient asks: “How soon can I be back to normal life after a tummy tuck?”, this is what I tell them.
What is the Average Downtime Following a Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck or abdominoplasty is a robust procedure that has the potential to completely change the appearance of your abdomen as it allows me to address all of the potential underlying issues that are contributing to a less than an ideal appearance in your mid-section. The procedure may include:
- Excise and lift loose skin
- Remove pockets of excess fat
- Tighten loose muscles
- Address diastases recti
As I always take a 360° approach with every body contouring procedure, I will typically perform some degree of liposuction on your hips and/or flanks in order to restore ideal proportion to your entire torso. Bottom line, we are doing a lot in one procedure which is why the results are so dramatic. But, a tummy tuck also places more stress on your tissues which requires more time for healing. Generally, an abdominoplasty patient can expect to be down down for at least 1 week with no heavy lifting and a need to take it very easy for another 1-2 weeks depending on what we do and how your body heals.
Everyone’s Healing Journey is Individual
No two people are going to heal at the same rate. This is due to the fact that every body’s healing journey is unique. Certain factors such as:
- Healthful diet
- Proper hydration
- Sleep hygiene
- Good mental attitude
These factors are within your control and may all contribute to a speedier recovery. Other factors such as genetics are immovable. I will take time during our initial consultation to ask you in depth questions into your medical history, family history, prior procedures you’ve had as well as how your body reacted. My goal is to establish your unique baseline for healing as this will give us a much better timeline for what you can expect in terms of your abdominoplasty recovery.
Tummy Tuck Recovery in Boston
During your body contouring consultation and subsequent pre-op appointments in one of my Boston area offices, I will be very honest about what you, specifically, can expect in terms of tummy tuck recovery. However, everyone is going to wake up with bandages and some kind of abdominal binder whether it’s an elastic bandage or a compression garment. You can expect to be sore for the first few days with swelling and bruising. I may place drains which are typically removed within the first week. The compression garment, however, is going to be your constant friend for the next 3 weeks. While this may seem like a pain, it will actually reduce your pain, speed up your healing process and is a significant contributor to the excellent end result that we both want.
To find out more about a Tummy Tuck, or any other surgical or non-surgical procedure with Dr. Vickram Tandon at the Boston Center for Plastic Surgery, contact us today or call 617-402-2768 to schedule a consultation.
