Patients seeking mommy makeover surgery frequently want to know when they’ll be able to exercise after their procedure. Unfortunately, exercise after mommy makeover surgery isn’t a cut and dry topic.
Due to the nature of mommy makeovers, each patient undergoes a procedure that’s individualized to them. Add that to the fact that every patient heals differently and has unique limitations, and it’s easy to see that exercise guidelines can vary drastically.
One thing is for sure, however: The initial mommy makeover recovery process should be primarily dedicated to rest. For at least four to six weeks (or longer in some cases), nearly all patients will need to refrain from heavy lifting and strenuous exercise. This means no:
- Running
- Jumping
- Cycling
- Aerobic exercises
- Sports (basketball, volleyball, tennis, etc.)
- Weight training
- Tummy strengthening exercises
- Breast tightening exercises
- Pilates
- Intense stretching (yoga, etc.)
Walking is the only acceptable exercise following surgery.
Why Light Walking After Mommy Makeover?
There are several reasons we encourage patients to walk for light cardio engagement following plastic surgery procedures, including mommy makeovers. But before we get to those, remember that even with walking, it’s important to go slow.
Take short, slow, and easy walks at first. No long treks. No power walking. No hills.
Here’s why we encourage walking:
1. It helps prevent blood clots.
While we do encourage you to be somewhat sedentary following any type of plastic surgery procedures (mommy makeover, tummy tuck, breast augmentation, etc.), being too sedentary can lead to poor circulation and blood clots.
We need you to stay somewhat moving during the recovery process without compromising your health or your mommy makeover results. Taking short, daily walks is the best solution.
2. It provides good stretch and simple strength training for your sedentary muscles.
When someone is sedentary for long periods of time, their muscles can become shorter, stiffer, and weaker. We want you to get stronger throughout your recovery period — not weaker.
Walking daily promotes better overall health by giving your muscles a daily workout. Even if it’s a small workout, it’s enough to maintain strength and flexibility until you can go back to your old (or adopt a new) workout regimen.
3. It helps maintain your endurance.
Just as we want to keep your muscles strong and flexible during the recovery time, we also want to keep your lungs and circulatory system in good shape. When you don’t exercise for a stretch of time, you can lose that endurance, and it becomes harder and harder to do anything physical without huffing and puffing.
By keeping up with a steady daily walking practice, you’ll be giving your lungs a regular workout. This will allow you to transition more easily into more physically demanding exercises like jogging, running, or sports once you’ve gone through the initial healing process.
4. It helps maintain your weight.
Not doing anything physical for long periods of time can often lead to unhealthy weight gain. Especially if you’re trying to stay slim and optimize your results from surgery (which may have included liposuction for fat reduction), you’ll want to maintain a steady weight even through this sedentary recovery period.
Walking helps keep your metabolism moving, which aids with weight maintenance. It also burns calories. Combined with a healthy diet, you’ll be able to power through your mommy makeover recovery period without gaining significant weight.
5. It helps keep you “regular”.
Sometimes, after major surgery and during a recovery period, patients can struggle with constipation because of their short-term sedentariness. As stated above, when you move regularly, this helps keep your metabolism from slowing down too much.
In turn, this helps your digestive system stay regular. We also encourage patients to drink plenty of water.
6. It’s mentally stimulating.
Lastly, walking every day helps you stay upbeat and motivated. When you can feel your body move, see how you are progressing throughout the recovery process, and get outdoors in the fresh air, you’ll feel happier and more capable overall.
It can be a great boost in confidence to get out and walk, even just up and down the driveway. This is especially true when you are dealing with initial recovery symptoms such as swelling, discomfort, and fatigue. Moving your body — even slowly — can feel empowering.
How Long After Mommy Makeover Can I Exercise?
For most patients, it is recommended that you wait approximately four to six weeks before returning to a regular workout routine that includes anything other than walking. Always seek your mommy makeover surgeon’s advice about this, however. Every patient is different. And every surgery is different.
FAQ: Recovery From Mommy Makeover Surgery
What is the best exercise for a mommy makeover?
Unless your surgeon tells you otherwise, it’s a great idea to stay active leading right up to your mommy makeover surgery. Prior to surgery, you are free to do any workout routine that matches what a healthy lifestyle means to you. This may be lifting weights, sit ups and crunches, running, walking, or most anything else.
Following a regular exercise routine prior to any type of major surgery has been shown to reduce complication rates significantly during recovery.
When can I workout after mommy makeover surgery if I had multiple procedures?
Most patients can begin light exercises after around four to six weeks. You’ll want to ease into movement slowly, however. Be wary of going too fast, and if you’ve had breast lift, breast reduction, breast augmentation, or a tummy tuck, avoid working the chest muscles and abdominal muscles too hard right away.
Book Your Consultation With Dr. Raja Mohan
Great mommy makeover results following surgery can be totally transformative and life-changing for many women. If you are interested in renewed self confidence and finding out if you’re a candidate for this surgery, please contact our office today to set up a consultation with board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Raja Mohan.
References
https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/mommy-makeover/recovery