I am 50-years-old and like to scuba dive.I am a quick healer from previous surgeries but I wonder about the recovery time from a mommy makeover. My concern is being able to pull myself up out of the water into the boat with an extra load of about 25 pounds of tanks and equipment. I want the surgery in June and the dive trip in August. Does this sound feasible if healing goes without any problems?
My patients can usually return to full activity within three weeks of their surgery. However, if something hurts after that, you should wait until it doesn't to do that activity.
Dr. ED Domanskis
Dr. Edward Domanskis is certified by American Board of Plastic Surgery
Newport Beach, Miami, Anguilla, EU, Nassau
You should be able to resume normal activity, including exercise and scuba, after 6 weeks.
JennyK,
Great to hear you have found a fabulous sport to enjoy. Scuba diving is amazing! We do allot of athletes in our office (runners, yoga & Zumba instructors). I usually recommend they do not participate in their strenuous activities for at least 6 to 8 weeks following a Tummy Tuck or Mommy Makeover (MMO). You will only do your MMO once in your life. Take some time out to recover. Best,
Gary R Culbertson, MD, FACS
Most patients are feeling back to normal, and able to perform their usual activities within about 4-6 weeks after surgery. However, there is always a risk of untoward complications that could derail your scuba plans. I would obtain travel insurance if possible to protect yourself from loss if you are unable to travel for medical reasons. Or consider giving yourself more time to recuperate before planning a strenuous vacation, like 3-4 months. Happy diving!
I suggest you remove your wight belt before attempting to board the dive boat. The dive crew should be able to grab your tanks as you board-that's part of their job. While most people can resume most of their pre-operative activities 8 weeks after surgery, this is not always the case if those activities involve heavy lifting, especially as the individual will likely gotten a little out of shape in the post-op period.
Dear Jenny,
Hello and thank you for your excellent question. It is best to answer your question during a face-to-face evaluation, when you can discuss your goals and expectations for the procedure, and you can have a physical examination to evaluate for that procedure. In general, you should be able to return to normal activity within the time frame you have specified. I recommend that you find a board-certified, or board-eligible plastic surgeon with whom you are comfortable. Be sure to have all of your questions answered during a face-to-face meeting with your surgeon, and review before and after pictures of similar patients whom have had this procedure. If you have any questions, call our office for assistance. Good luck!
Thank you for sharing your excellent question. For that amount of activity I would allow for at least 6-8 weeks of uncomplicated recovery. Hope this helps.
As a PADI certified diver myself, I have a pretty good idea about the kind of force required to get in and out of the boat, not to mention every once in a while swimming against currents etc. However, while I do a lot of tummy tucks, I've never had one myself...
I would guess you need at least six weeks of recovery to feel safe on your next dive. It is typically at this point that my patients are asking to go back to the gym. That said, please be careful not to perform too much core work until 8 weeks post-op. I've seen the muscle repair fail when one patient did pilates too soon.
Good Luck and enjoy your next dive!