Before you get a tummy tuck, make sure you do these 5 things!


Pre - Tummy Tuck


  • Tummy Tuck/Abdominoplasty is quite common.

  • However, many women are either ashamed of this surgery or simply don’t talk about it.

  • Additionally, it is rare for women to get physical therapy or individualized help pre or post surgery.

  • All of these things contribute to the confusion surrounding this procedure, and I am on a mission to change that!







1) Work with a physical therapist that plans to progressively load your core.

Over the years, new research, critical thinking, and open minds have led to many changes surrounding how to treat Diastasis Recti. 

If you are considering an abdominoplasty/tummy tuck, first try an individualized rehab plan where you work on connecting back to core, managing pain, learning pressure management techniques, and gaining core strength. No matter what fitness level you are, what your goals are, or what body composition you have; you will benefit from this. 

BONUS: Many of these strategies may also help you recover from surgery, if you decide to go that route. 

TIP: It might be hard to find an up to date professional that is a good match for you and also understands your goals. Don’t be afraid to explore telehealth for consultations and appointments! High quality help can be just a Zoom call away. 

2) Workout!

Once you get guidance from the right professional, you can work on exhausting all your options by getting strong. Even if you decide to have surgery, it’s always good to be strong and healthy beforehand. 

I know this might look differently to everyone depending on fitness choices. Whether you hit the gym on the regular or simply do some core work at home, it can make a huge difference.


3) If you do decide on surgery, get numerous consultations. 

You don’t know what you don’t know, and this surgery is black hole. Additionally, surgeons all do the procedure differently. You’ll learn something new at each consultation. It’s hard to feel comfortable with a surgeon or even know what to look for until you have seen a few and have something to compare them against. 

Bring a list of questions in case you get nervous. Also, take notes while you are there so you can refer back to them. We all know how much we can forget, especially when we are overwhelmed! I have a free download on my website (on the bottom of the homepage) that is a good place to start! 

Make sure to look at their work. This is plastic surgery and while I know there is concern about function for all of us fitness gals, you also need to pick a surgeon who does amazing aesthetic work. This is your belly for the rest of your life- from the inside out!


4) Give it time.

Unless you have a hernia that is a medical emergency or you are a high level competitive athlete with a short timeline, give your body the time it needs to heal after birth. Tissues can take 1-2 years to fully heal after birth! Set yourself up for the best recovery from this surgery by letting your body fully heal before going through another healing journey. 

Additionally, the abdominoplasty has a very difficult and intense recovery. You’ll either need full time child care or children old enough where you don’t need to pick them up. So don’t rush into this surgery while the kids are really young. 

Lastly, waiting gives you time to find the right physical therapist, coach, and surgeon to set up your team to help with your recovery. 

5) Work on your body image.

Getting a tummy tuck will not fix a toxic relationship with your body. In fact, it could make it worse.

You cannot workout for a time period. Then, you’ll need to modify your workouts for quite a while. Additionally, you may be swollen for up to 12 months and some of your stretch marks will most likely still be present.

And, most importantly, you will look different but you will not look “perfect” or have a flat belly 24/7 after having this procedure done. So, it is important to go into surgery having realistic expectations and also having healed the relationship you have with your body.



Post - Tummy Tuck 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What I want you to know about my stomach!

Image
I decided to write this blog for my own sanity! Every day I end up ignoring my kids to write long post to a stranger on either the Diastasis Recti support group, CrossFit mom group, or Mom2Mom group. I just want to be the person that I needed years ago so badly, so please help me share my message! Here is my stomach. Severe Diastasis Recti. It looked similar to this after my first pregnancy, but it definitely protrudes much more after my second. The creation of my stomach in its current state is multi-faceted. Small torso, big baby (both boys almost 9 pounds) Genetic factors: I got the short end of the stick how my fascia responded to these stressors. Making my already bad situation worse during my first “fit pregnancy” by doing exercises to increase intraabdominal pressure Returning to CrossFit and the physical demands of motherhood with no guidance Thinking I was healed more than I actually was after my first round of
Read more

All About My Abdominoplasty Surgery!

Image
Surgery Blog....Finally!  It has taken me forever to write this blog partly because my recovery took so long, and I wasn’t in the mindset to write it. However, mostly it was because I don’t want to pretend to be an expert on this surgery or for you to think that the way my surgery was done is the “right” way. Or for you to think that all the information you need can be found in this blog. Plus, I am only 3 months into recovery, and I don’t REALLY know how I am doing other than I have a much flatter stomach.  So, I decided to write this blog into two parts. The first part is what I believe is universally important, and the second part is about how MY surgery was performed and why my surgeon thought that was best. But, again, that doesn’t mean it has to be that way for you.  Finally, I also recognize that the advice I am giving you in this blog is full of privilege. Hiring a full time nanny for 3 weeks, opening a no interest credit card to pay for surgery
Read more

Why “listening to your body” post tummy tuck doesn’t always work!

Image
There are a lot of strict requirements in the early days of recovery. And while that is necessary, you do still have to move, get up off the toilet, get in and out of bed or a recliner, and do a few basic things when you aren’t resting. Having strategies to do basic movements around the house can be very helpful during this time. This can become even more confusing once you hit the 2-3 week post-op mark. You aren't cleared for exercise yet, but some women either find themselves under doing it or overdoing it.  Overdoing it can create pain and/or issues with healing, but becoming fearful around movement can create another set of challenges. Next, getting “cleared” for exercise may also feel very overwhelming. You may be in so much pain and wondering what is wrong with you. In this case if you, “listen to your body”, you might not move much at all, which can increase aches and pains. On the other hand, if you are feeling pretty good, you may risk overdoing it and/or getting injured. 
Read more