Dr Kumar’s standard advice after body contouring surgery is two weeks off work, a gradual return to most things over the following four weeks, and a build-up to full clearance at about twelve weeks. It applies across panniculectomy, abdominoplasty, arm lift, thigh lift and body lift, adjusted for how much was done.
Week by week
| When | What to expect | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | In hospital; drains in; tight and sore; you will stand slightly bent | Walk with help from day one |
| Days 4–7 | Home; swelling peaks then settles; tired | Short walks hourly; nothing heavy |
| Week 1 | First review; drains usually out | Standing straighter; most reduce pain relief |
| Week 2 | Moving comfortably in the garment | Desk work; driving once off strong pain relief |
| Weeks 3–6 | Swelling settling; energy returning | Gradual return to most activity by effort |
| Week 6 | Second review; dressings and garment off | Light gym; no heavy lifting or core work |
| Week 12 | Third review; full clearance for most | Full exercise |
| 6 and 12 months | Scars fading; final review at twelve months | — |
Dr Kumar reviews his surgical patients for twelve months. The nurses who prepare you for theatre are the same ones you see at every review afterwards.
The standing protocol
Prineo and Micropore go on the wounds at surgery and stay for six weeks. A compression garment is worn for the same six weeks, day and night. Drains are used and usually come out in the first week. More on garments.
What makes recovery harder than people expect
- Fatigue. Large-surface surgery is systemically tiring for weeks, not days. This surprises people more than pain does.
- Standing bent over. Normal for the first week or two after abdominal work.
- Numbness. Expected across the lower abdomen; improves over six to twelve months, with a permanent patch common.
- Swelling that shifts. Worse by evening, for months.
- The three-month scar low point. Scars look their worst at about three months and their best at twelve. Scars after skin removal.
Getting ready
- Nicotine. Complete abstinence from all nicotine, not just smoking, for eight weeks before and after body contouring after weight loss.
- Nutrition. Protein, iron, B12 and vitamin D are commonly low after bariatric surgery and wound healing depends on them. Dietitian input is available before surgery.
- Help at home for the first week, particularly with children.
- Set up downstairs and arrange a lift home.
- Plan the time off properly. Time off work.
What is normal, and what is not
Normal: swelling worse by evening, bruising tracking downwards, numbness, a firm ridge along the scar that softens, and fluid leaking from a drain site for a day or two after removal.
Worth a call: fever, redness spreading from the wound, calf pain or swelling, breathlessness, a wound that opens, or a swelling that is getting larger rather than smaller — which may be a seroma. Dr Kumar’s nurses would rather see you early than late — 1300 267 726.
Common questions
How much time off work will I need?
For a desk job, most people plan on two to three weeks. For work that involves lifting, climbing or being on your feet all day, six weeks is the usual figure, and longer after a circumferential lipectomy. The limit is not pain but tension on the wound: going back too early is one of the more common reasons a scar widens or a wound separates.
When can I drive again?
Once you are off strong analgesia, can sit upright comfortably, and can perform an emergency stop and turn to check your blind spot without hesitating. In practice that is usually around two weeks after an abdominoplasty. Check with your insurer as well, since some policies set their own conditions after surgery.
How long do the drains stay in?
Until the output falls below a set volume over 24 hours, which is usually somewhere between five days and two weeks. Drains are not removed to a calendar. Dr Kumar’s nursing team will show you how to record the output before you go home, and you will be reviewed to have them removed once the numbers allow it.
Do I have to wear a compression garment, and for how long?
Yes. Plan on six weeks, day and night, with the garment off only to shower. It controls swelling, supports the repair and makes the first weeks considerably more comfortable. You are measured for it before surgery by the nurses, and they fit and check it at your post-operative reviews.
When can I go back to the gym?
Walking starts the day of surgery and builds from there. Light cardiovascular work usually resumes at around four weeks, resistance training and core work at eight to twelve weeks depending on the operation and whether the abdominal muscles were repaired. Dr Kumar will give you the timeline for your own operation at your review.
Will I need help at home?
For the first week, yes. You will be able to walk and look after yourself, but not lift, reach high shelves or manage small children. Arrange for someone to be at home for the first few nights and to help with shopping and driving for the first fortnight. It makes a real difference to how the early recovery goes.
I live in Orange or further west. Do I have to stay in Sydney afterwards?
For the larger operations, yes, for a period. Dr Kumar operates on weight-loss patients at Westmead Private Hospital, and you will usually be asked to remain within reach of the hospital until the drains are out and the wounds are settled. That is planned with you in advance so accommodation and time away from home can be arranged. Follow-up afterwards can be shared with reviews at Orange.
When will the swelling settle and the shape look final?
The bulk of the swelling is gone by six to eight weeks, but the tissues continue to settle for a good deal longer, and scars mature over twelve to eighteen months. Judging the result at three months is judging it too early. Individual results will vary.
Next step
If you are planning around work or family, Dr Kumar’s nurses can talk you through the timeline for your situation before you book. Bring a GP referral — it is required to see Dr Kumar. Call 1300 267 726. More about body contouring after weight loss, and preparation at My Weight Loss Journey.
The initial consultation with Dr Kumar is $400, with a Medicare rebate of approximately $88 where you have a GP referral. Surgical fees are quoted individually after your consultation, in a written itemised quote.
All surgery carries risks, and individual results will vary. Read more about the risks of surgery here. A GP referral is required to see Dr Kumar.
Dr Rohit Kumar (MED0001630444) Registered medical practitioner, specialist plastic surgeon (specialist registration in surgery – plastic surgery).
