Greater Body

How long should I wait to workout after abdominoplasty & Lipo? What can I use to heal the scar fastest?

I had abdominoplasty/lipo last year. I am 27 and in good health - I gained a little weight from not working out after the procedure, but it is all in my butt and legs now. I am just wondering what I can do to minimize the scar and if I can start working out again - my stomach is still numb. I also would like to know if anyone has had this procedure after a large weight loss and then gotten pregant afterwards. What were your results after you had the baby?

Public Comments

1. I have no experience with abdominoplasty - don't even know what it is, or lipo - but I do know what that is. If you hat the surgery last year then you really should be getting some exercise. I would guess that this would be similar to having a c-section as far as working out and stuff goes. You really should see your doctor to make sure you get the best advice, but here are some guidelines if you will not be seeing a doctor. ... Trust your body on what your limits are. I was told to take it very easy - not lifting over 10 pounds or anything for at least 6 weeks after my c-section. I lifted more than that within a week of my c-section because I had no one to help me, and I think my body paid the price. It was over 2 months before I could work out much. When you do start to workout, take it slow at first. Push yourself until you "feel the burn" but not until you feel like your insides are ripping apart or anything. After my over 2 months of not exercising much, I had a lot of scar tissue inside of me that had to be stretched out and stuff. I would stretch and stuff until I had a slightly painful burning sensation a few times a day. Every day I think I got a little further until I regained full mobility in that area. If your stomach is still numb I wonder if maybe you meant a month instead of a year?? If it has just been a month, I would suggest mentioning it to your doctor and taking it easy for a few more weeks. If it has really been a year, go ahead and exercise a bit. Just make sure you don't push yourself too hard. It may be hard to tell how hard is too hard when you are numb. Pay attention to signs like if you get short of breath, feel your heart beating hard, or get lightheaded. I would take a break as soon as you feel any of those symptoms and wait a while to see how you feel once they have passed. If you feel fine, try to exercise about that much the next few day. - Use common sense on how far you can push your body. For the scars, stretch, drink plenty of water, and use moisturizers and lotions. They make special ones to reduce and minimize scaring, but if you can't find or afford any of them, something will be better of nothing.
2. It's safe to start taking gentle exercise such as walking. You should see your doctor about the numbness in your abdomen, though. If you get pregnant, you will most likely gain some weight again, around your abdomen, buttocks and thighs. Many women will work this off after the childbirth, but some go for a "mommy makeover" after the birth, getting the procedure that you've already had - combined abdominoplasty and lisposuction.