How long will I be off from work after an abdominoplasty?
If you are suffering because of the sagginess present on the lower part of your tummy, you might be a good candidate for the tummy tuck. Other qualifications include if you have lost a considerable amount of weight in a short period of time, if you had one or multiple pregnancies, and if your tummy has been affected by the natural aging process.
An unpleasant appearance of the tummy and the desire to have it corrected are not enough to deem you as a good candidate for the procedure. Your eligibility to undergo abdominoplasty will be assessed in detail by the plastic surgeon.
You will have a meeting with the plastic surgeon before scheduling the procedure, and during this time you will undergo a physical examination. The surgeon will also ask about your medical history, current medication, potential allergies, and also other surgeries you might have had. He will explain the pros and cons of the procedure and what are the long-term consequences to be expected. Also, it is during this time that you can ask the surgeon any questions you might have about the procedure or address your concerns.
During the pre-operative consultation, many patients want to find out how long will they be off from work after abdominoplasty. This is a very good question, and it is important to discuss the aspects of the recovery period with the plastic surgeon, even before scheduling.
Just like any other surgical procedure, the patient needs to take time off from work for the recovery period. Generally speaking, the plastic surgeon will advise taking two weeks off from work for most patients. However, if you suffer from pre-existing health conditions or you are over 50 years old, there is a possibility you might need a longer time to heal after the surgery before getting back to work, so the plastic surgeon might advise you to consider taking three weeks off. Also, even after the return to work, the body will continue the healing process. Two weeks after the surgery you might still be experiencing bruising and swelling, and you might still need to walk with the back slightly bent forward. If this is not an issue, you can resume work. If it is, maybe consider staying longer at home to recover.
Before returning to work, you also need to take into consideration whether your work responsibilities might interfere with the healing process. For at least four to six weeks after abdominoplasty, you won’t be allowed to lift anything heavy and also it is preferable not to spend long hours standing up as swelling might occur on the legs. Depending from case to case, the plastic surgeon might give you other instructions as well. Make sure they are followed before you return to work.
