Sex after a tummy tuck is one of the most common questions I hear when it comes to body sculpting procedures. We talked about it enough that I felt the need to create an easy-to-reference article so people can have peace of mind about having sex after a tummy tuck. I was amazed by how much misinformation it is online, so I wanted to create this article to educate everyone on how long it takes to have sex again after a tummy tuck.
In This Article
What is Tummy Tuck?
It is a plastic surgery procedure performed to repair the muscles in the abdomen wall. There are two main reasons why people undergo tummy tuck surgeries – to remove excess fat from the stomach or to correct an abdominal bulge or protrusion.
It involves tightening skin and muscles on the abdomen to remove excess fat, tighten abdominal muscle bands, and alter the shape of the belly. It is a common cosmetic surgery procedure, and many methods exist to perform tummy tucks.
Two common methods of a tummy tuck:-
- The most common method is a traditional abdominoplasty, which involves making an incision in the middle of the belly button, and moving the skin and some of the fat below the skin to tighten the abdominal muscles and create a flatter stomach.
- Another common method used in tummy tucks is liposuction of the lower stomach area, which can be done alone or as part of the surgery. {1}
Can I Have Sex After Tummy Tuck?
I get many questions regarding a tummy tuck and whether I can have sex after my surgery. So it’s possible if you’re wondering whether you can have sex after your tummy tuck.
Most people I know who had a tummy tuck are surprised that they can resume sex because it feels so good, and with time you will get used to your new body and the sex. Although it’s not recommended to have sex after your surgery immediately, surgeons recommend waiting at least 4 weeks.
When Can I Have Sex After Tummy Tuck?
After tummy tuck surgery, it can take a little time to heal and recover. If you’re planning surgery and worried about how long to wait before having sex, your cosmetic surgeon can provide individual guidance on optimizing your rehabilitation.
Plastic surgeons recommend abstaining from sex for three to six weeks after the procedure to ensure their patients stay safe while recovering from their tummy tucks. Basically, to minimize the risk of swelling and developing a hematoma or seroma post-operatively. Although according to experts, the wounds heal in two weeks, the overall strength of wounds after which they can be said it’s cured is said to be attended by 4-6 weeks. And also that having sex after this time period would be much more satisfying and comfortable.
Having Sex Too Soon After a Tummy Tuck?
Some people think that having sex too soon after a tummy tuck is dangerous. Some doctors and surgeons will tell you that it is fine to have sex right after a tummy tuck surgery. They tell you to wait at least 4 weeks for your skin to heal. However, there are some people who don’t follow this advice. They believe that it is safe for them to have sex right away. They say that it doesn’t cause any harm to the patient.
You might want to reconsider your decision if you’re one of them. You need to make sure that you won’t regret it. Remember, you want to look healthy and fit. You don’t want your body to be covered with scars. Your body needs time to heal before you start having sex.
If you have sex too soon after a tummy tuck, you risk damaging the delicate and fragile wounds, which can end up being a scar on your tummy and other health issues. Early sex can cause problems, including stretched scars, wound breakdown, and fluid collections under the skin known as seroma, so it’s much better to wait for at least 4 weeks before you go forward with sex.
Why Can’t You Have Sex Just Following Tummy Tuck?
A tummy tuck involves stitching together the abdominal muscles so that they appear firm and toned for women who have had a dramatic weight loss or have had their bellies stretched by the birth of a baby. After a tummy tuck, the incision may take some time to heal. Some women don’t feel any pain at all, but others feel a sharp, stabbing sensation. If you experience discomfort after the procedure, ask your surgeon if you can resume normal activity immediately or if you need to take it easy for a while.
It is not possible to have sex following tummy tuck surgery because of the muscle tightening and external abdominal skin suturing. It is important to allow your abdomen to heal before putting stress on them. Sex within the first two weeks can cause a lot of stress on the healing body.
How to Know When You Are Ready?
So you’ve gotten all of this advice, and now what? Well, the next step is figuring out when you are ready to have sex again after your tummy tuck break. However, it completely depends on you as no one knows your body better than you, neither your doctor nor your sex partner, so when you feel like it’s okay to get back on track with your sex life, you can jump and dive into it without any hesitation. Just make sure your wounds are healed and that during sex, it doesn’t get worse. Also, notify your sex partner regarding the tummy tuck surgery so they can go smooth and slow on you rather than go wild and rough.
Although anytime during sexual intercourse you feel uncomfortable or not feeling well, or your tummy tuck isn’t healing properly, or if you’re still having pain in the incision site, just consult your doctor without wasting a second; it can be dangerous to ignore such instincts.
The Final Wording:
In conclusion, it takes at least two weeks for the scars to fully heal when it comes to the healing process after a tummy tuck. This is due to the fact that when you undergo surgery, the skin is removed and then reattached. As a result, the skin takes much longer to heal than normal completely. As long as you are taking care of yourself and avoiding activities that could cause more trauma to your stomach area, you should have no problems with intimacy until the scars fully heal. Depending on your surgeon’s recommendations, this may take anywhere from two to four weeks.
Hope you liked our blog post on how long to resume sex after a tummy tuck. You can read on with our other posts, too, as our blog mainly contains articles on Sexual Wellness which includes the different topics of Sex Health, Safety, Relationship, and more. Even if you are looking for Sex Therapy, Sex Education, or Sexual Well-Being, everything related to it is available on our blog. If you know anyone who can get help from it, share it with them and help them.
Reference:
{1} Tummy Tuck Surgery: WebMD (2021)
