It is perfectly healthy to wish to return to your sex life as soon as possible after your tummy tuck. However, caution must be taken to have sex so you will not affect your recovery.

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What to Expect After a Tummy Tuck

Different types of tummy tucks create different incision sites, but each tummy tuck method will create a certain level of swelling and tenderness around the abdomen, especially in the first week.

Side effects such as swelling and soreness are completely normal at first. Over time, these effects will gradually dissipate, but it is important to take great care of your body in the initial stages of your recovery.

Waiting to Have Sex After a Tummy Tuck

Every person has a different rate of recovery, and how soon you return to sex will depend on your natural capacity for healing and the extent of your tummy tuck surgery.

For patients who have undergone a less extensive surgery, like a mini tummy tuck, it should be possible to have sex after four weeks of recovery time.

For more extensive procedures like a full tummy, downtime may be longer – between four and six weeks.

Risks of Having Sex Too Soon After a Tummy Tuck

Due to the sutures necessary for sealing your incisions after surgery, having sex too soon after your tummy tuck could cause complications, such as wound breakdown.

Straining your stitches can be detrimental to healing, which may lead to malformation or asymmetry of your scars.

Some tummy tucks involve repairs to the abdominal muscles in order to tackle diastasis recti, which will need to be treated very carefully after the operation in order to maintain their efficacy. Having sex too early could cause this repair to break down, creating the need for further revision.

Tips for Sex After a Tummy Tuck

Once it is deemed safe by your doctor and you feel ready to have sex for the first time after your tummy tuck, there are a few pieces of advice worth bearing in mind.

Listen to Your Body

Your body will give you signals if you are taking steps that are too fast for the stage of recovery you are at. Listen to the signals; take things slowly, and take note if something is too painful or too physically demanding.

Ensure Your Partner is Gentle

Make sure your partner is as informed as possible about your condition so that they can be careful and conscious of your needs.

For the full period of recovery (2-3 months), sex should be gentle and considered.

Consider Your Position

The reality is, some sex positions will not be possible for a period after your tummy tuck.

Any position that places stress on your abdominal area may be too much for it to heal. Plan ahead and decide which positions will be best for you and your partner, given your stage of recovery.

Is a Tummy Tuck Worth It?

The results of a tummy tuck can leave you feeling less self-conscious and more confident in the skin you live in.

While your recovery will require short-term abstinence from certain sexual activities, the benefits of a tummy tuck can give a dramatic boost to your quality of life in the long term.

If you are unsure about the pros and cons of a tummy tuck, you can explore them further in our blog post on the topic.

If you feel physical discomfort as a result of excess skin or separated abdominal muscles, a tummy tuck can be extremely effective at removing unnecessary skin, repairing your muscles, and flattening out your stomach.

Schedule a Consultation with CREO Clinic Today

For a more extensive explanation of what a tummy tuck could do for you, book a consultation with Dr Omar Tillo, the CREO clinic’s double board-certified cosmetic surgeon.

Dr Tillo will be able to create a bespoke treatment plan personalised to your needs, using his experience and expertise as a renowned tummy tuck specialist to set out a path to a new, more aesthetically pleasing stomach.