sex after a tummy tuck

Sex After a Tummy Tuck

Table of Contents

If you are worried about how you will appear, you may want to consider undergoing a tummy tuck procedure to remove loose skin and fat, as well as to tighten your abdominal muscles. A tummy tuck can work wonders in reshaping your abdomen so that you reset your body to how it appeared before your pregnancy or weight loss.

Many types of surgery, including the tummy tuck, involve a lengthy recovery process in which your physical activity will need to be limited while your body recovers and heals. Many women who undergo a tummy tuck procedure wonder what restrictions they will be under when it comes to physical activity like sex. Read on to learn more about the tummy tuck and when you can return to normal activities like sex.

How long after a tummy tuck can you have sex?

As you know, your body will be sore for a while after your tummy tuck procedure. It is essential to realize that every tummy tuck patient is different, with different bodies and healing and recovery times based upon factors like genetics and lifestyle.

Another factor when you can start having sex again after tummy tuck surgery is whether you undergo a full or mini tummy tuck. The mini tummy tuck requires a shorter recovery period, but no matter the case, you will still have to deal with things like compression garments, drains, and external sutures.

Tummy tuck patients are generally advised to avoid sexual activity for three to six weeks after undergoing the procedure. When you are ready to have sex, most of your side effects should have subsided. Your plastic surgeon can give you a more precise idea of when to resume sexual activity. 

Monitoring Your Recovery

You will be monitored during your recovery to see how you are progressing. Depending upon your progress, your time frame could be moved forward or back within that three to the six-week range. Be sure to follow all of the instructions provided by your surgeon so that you recover as quickly as possible.

Depending upon the stage of recovery you are in, you may also want to avoid specific sexual postures that could jeopardize your healing and recovery. So be sure to listen to all of the post-operative instructions that your plastic surgeon gives you so that you can recover on schedule.

The Takeaway

The tummy tuck procedure has helped millions of people recover their figures after events like pregnancy and extreme weight loss. Before you know it, you’ll be looking at yourself in the mirror with pride once again. You will have restored your sensual shape and can enjoy the self-confidence boost that comes along with it.

What is the difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini tummy tuck?

Both procedures involve the removal of excess skin and fat, often combined with a liposuction procedure. Both procedures also involve some repair work of the abdominal wall to strengthen it and make it more smooth and firm.

One key difference between the two procedures is that getting a full tummy tuck procedure means you will probably require a fairly long incision, generally along the bikini line from hip to hip. You may also need another, smaller incision near your belly button.

In contrast, only one small incision is needed for a mini tummy tuck, made right over the groin area.

Another difference between a full tummy tuck and a mini one is the length of recovery following the two procedures. You probably would need a couple of weeks of rest and recover fully from a full tummy tuck, while a mini tummy tuck recovery is typically only a week or so if you want to return to work. Complete recovery may take three or four weeks.

Dr. John E. Nees, MD

Dr. John E. Nees, MD

Medically reviewed by
Dr. John E. Nees, MD specializes in aesthetic plastic surgery in Miami, FL

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