If I got a tummy tuck and went back to work 3 days post op?

See I want a tummy tuck ( thought I could get away without getting one) and my doc agrees I should have one. Only problem is, I must basically be dying to get time off work.

I have always had all my surgeries on a Saturday and go back to work on the Monday ( band in, out, in, and many lipo sessions). I have seem to grow almost immune to the pain from lipo ( only need pain killers once right after waking up from surgery).

I know everyone is different and every surgery is different but for those who have had a tummy tuck could you handle sitting at a desk for 6 hours ( standing on and off for the other 2 hours) out of the day just a few days after surgery?

Also could you handle doing everything by your self or would you need someone to help you? No one ever knows about my surgeries and I have never gotten help from anyone.

I am hoping/planning on a tummy tuck in Oct so I am just trying to prepare before then.

I am assuming though I must double check that my muscles won't be touched ( so its called a panni something ruther) which will make recovery more easy right?

I had a tummy tuck in 1999 in conjunction with some other surgeries and my muscles were involved. It hurt like holy hell and no, I did not feel like sitting at a desk for several hours three days later. I asked a friend who had a non-muscular-involvement tummy tuck done and she said it hurt like holy hell and no she wouldn't want to sit at a desk three days later.

That being said, I have never had a moment's regret about having the tuck. It was worth every moment of discomfort and inconvenience. Good luck to you!

I have an inverted T tummy tuck on the 12th August and my belly muscles they could not do (as they were kinda done with hernia mesh in 2007) I guess i could have gone back to work on the next Monday - But I would not advise it - I am now a couple of weeks out and I am still very tired, tho the compression garment I have helps tons with any swelling etc. Pain - I havent had but for the first few days I was pulled forward by the stitches so had backache for about a week.

The Hernia surgery hurt like holy hell, and my surgeon said it was a v large mesh and he couldn't do anything in that area or I would have been left with a large lump right down the centre of my belly. I am gonna ask him when I see him what difference that would have made to my shape if he had been able to stitch the belly muscles as I am not sure they woulda moved much on me at all...

is there no way you could take a week off work?

Good luck

I know a guy who had a tummy tuck and was not going to tell anyone. He took 2 weeks off but when he came back to work, he still couldn't stand upright and it was obvious he was in pain when he had to sit or stand. Seeing him 2 weeks later, I seriously doubt he could have worked after 2 days.

I have sick days which I should be able to use except my boss would tell me i am not allowed to get the surgery and wouldn't let me use the sick days if I asked....

That's sad - Do you not get a certain amount of Holidays over there like we do in UK?

Then again - After the fact if you are sick - He'll hafta give you sik days (I was given a letter for boss saying something about just having surgery)

I am in the very early stages on researching my cosmetic surgery and have my first face to face consultation with the surgeon next week.

I had a concern similar to yours and asked how soon after surgery I will be able to drive. I was told that I shouldn't expect to drive for at least 7 days after surgery, when the drains come out and I stop pain medication.

I have a pretty high pain threshold also. So, it is the drains that will prevent me from driving or returning to work.

I have sick days which I should be able to use except my boss would tell me i am not allowed to get the surgery and wouldn't let me use the sick days if I asked....

Sounds like a gem of a boss. Did s/he give you sick time for the hernia repair recovery period?

Yeah - How about saying to your boss - ''I have to have a stomach surgery - And I will need a few days off to recover'' (Dont be specific as to what the surgery is - Just say stomach surgery and let them think whatever they want) - If they ask just say 'I have a problem with my belly and I hafta get it fixed' They will probably think it's something inside the belly - But you are not lying - you do have a problem and you are getting it fixed.......

I am 6 days out of an extended vertical tummy tuck and let me tell you i have no i idea how i am going to go back to work on monday which will be 11 days post-op. This was the worst pain i have ever experienced.

There's also one other very important point to remember, and one I have to tell myself as I have done this to myself before when I had a caesar.

It is IMPERATIVE that you rest and let the huge incisions heal. Otherwise, what point is there having a tummy tuck if you end up with enormous incisional hernias becuase you didnt give it a chance to heal up. I've got two golf balls on either end of my caesar scar a) because the pain relief they gave me in hospital was just too bloody good and I didnt feel like I'd had anything done and I'm not a lie around type of person, and i had to be a hero when I got home, wouldnt accept to much help around the house and was out walking the neighbourhood, shopping etc very quickly. I felt fine, but now I have testicles, lol. They're not THAT bad but hernias can be dangerous too dont forget, especially if you have an incision the size of a tummy tuck one, through which important organs can bulge (and strangulate).

It is absolutely unrealistic to be thinking of work three days later, sorry to be blunt, but that's just not sensible. You'd be putting your health at risk and you're going to be still in an anaesthetic fugue anyway.

You dont have to disclose exactly what's done, surely. Say you have to have surgery but dont make it sound cosmetic or elective. Say you have a bowel obstruction for example. Medical certificates dont have to specify.

Sounds like a gem of a boss. Did s/he give you sick time for the hernia repair recovery period?

Yeah - How about saying to your boss - ''I have to have a stomach surgery - And I will need a few days off to recover'' (Dont be specific as to what the surgery is - Just say stomach surgery and let them think whatever they want) - If they ask just say 'I have a problem with my belly and I hafta get it fixed' They will probably think it's something inside the belly - But you are not lying - you do have a problem and you are getting it fixed.......

I never had a hernia repair. I did get a day off work once for surgery but said it was for an ulcer ( i believe that was the translation in Korean) so I am not sure if I can use an excuse like that again or say it is a repair of that etc. I will see what I can get away with. My doc will of course help with any note that I may need.

Thanks for the feed back guys :biggrin: I think I might try to get 2 days off (making it 4-5 days post op I would have to go back) and if I am still shit after my boss can come see for herself how bad of condition I am in.

Oh and I am not sure how intense the surgery would be. I am still in the works of talking with my doc. I am pretty sure it is just to remove a small amount of skin. The incision wouldn't be that large or long. I also dont think my muscles will be touched. I will doubt check and post again.