FITNESS ROUTINES FOR LIPOSUCTION PATIENTS & BEYOND
Post-Op Fitness
We often speak at Neinstein Plastic Surgery that many of our patients come to us conditioned, but looking to take their bodies that “extra mile.” Post operatively patients often are eager to get back to working out. While the time line is customized and different for everyone here is an outline for movement post op.
What is amazing about our community of patients is how much they can accelerate and enhance their results to achieve body goals they could never have imagined with a commitment to fitness
Overall we want to fill the gap between effort and outcome. From liposuction to tummy tucks to breast surgery our dedicated and focused team is here to help you achieve what clean eating and exercising alone cant do.
Quick facts about when you can start exercise
- Breast augmentation: one week no restrictions
- Breast augmentation with internal bra: 4 weeks
- Breast lift/reduction: 6 weeks to allow incisions to settle
- Liposuction: 4 weeks
- Gynecomastia: 4 weeks
- To help achieve long lean elegant athletic results we love pilates type exercises.
Day 1 – Day 7
You’ll be sore, stiff and sleepy. This being said it is imperative that you are up walking and moving to prevent a blood clot. This could be as simple as laps around your hotel room or down the hallway. Anywhere from once an hour to 30 minutes in a period, whatever your body is up to. If you feel as if you are unable to move this much, we do as you “draw the alphabet with your ankles,” “pump your legs like you are breaking in a car” Anything to keep the blood flowing.
Day 7 – 6 Weeks
Typically, patient is feeling significantly more like themselves by this time. They are wondering when they can get up and do things, i.e go to lunch or shopping if staying in NYC. We tell patients movement is medicine and as long as your heart rate is kept down, we are absolutely ok with you walking as much as you are capable. We often use the analogy, if you walk to your local Starbucks, we want you doing your normal activities it just will take your body longer to do these movements. It is counterintuitive to lay and bed and stay still as this will make you stiffer and sorer.
If you are someone who frequently the gym a want to walk on a treadmill SLOWLY, once cleared by the nurse caring for you from the office this is something we often approve. Many patients whose bodies are used to moving 6-7 days a week pre op will crave movement post op. This is totally customized to the patient and typically Is spoken about at patients 1 week and 1 month visit. 1lb ankle weights or arm weights are also indicated by the nurse for arm circles or walking AS LONG as the heart rate is kept down.
6 Weeks – 3 Months
Patients are allowed to resume cardio, body weight activity and band work. All while LISTENING TO THEIR BODIES. Patients will feel sensations such as “pulling, tightness, soreness, stretching and tearing” These are normal. “Sharp, shooting, stabbing and 10/10 pain” Is NOT normal. Patients should stop what they are doing and re positioning using good body mechanics. I.e bending your knees and not straining your abdomen or back.
This is the time that patients start to really feel good, they might still notice some lower abdominal swelling but they are back to lots of their normal movements with the EXCEPTION OF NO CORE WORK
NO SIT UPS
NO PLANKS
NO CRUNCHES
We often remind patients that everything we do involves our core so it is imperative not to over work it with the above movements.
3 Months – 18 Months
Full THROTTLE! You can resume all core workouts starting off slow, Pilates and your normal routines. Patients again are instructed to listen to their bodies. Work slow, don’t go right back to the highest weight on reps or your PR. The goal for workouts should be LOW WEIGHT, HIGH REPS. This helps create long lean muscles.
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