Post-Surgery Activity Restrictions: What to Avoid for a Smooth Recovery
After plastic surgery, your body needs time to heal properly. While it might be tempting to resume your normal activities as soon as possible, overexertion and improper movements can lead to complications such as excessive swelling, prolonged pain, or even delayed healing. Understanding what activities to avoid and for how long is crucial for a successful recovery.
This guide will outline the most important activity restrictions to follow after plastic surgery, helping you achieve the best possible results.
Why Activity Restrictions Matter After Surgery
Following your surgeon’s post-operative restrictions is essential for protecting your incisions, reducing swelling, and preventing complications. Ignoring these guidelines can result in:
❌ Excessive Swelling – Overexertion can lead to fluid buildup and prolonged inflammation.
❌ Delayed Healing – Straining surgical areas can put stress on stitches and slow down tissue repair.
❌ Increased Pain & Discomfort – Overactivity may cause unnecessary pain and muscle tension.
❌ Risk of Bleeding or Hematomas – Certain movements can cause internal bleeding or blood clots near surgical sites.
❌ Poor Surgical Results – Ignoring restrictions may compromise the final outcome, leading to unwanted scarring or asymmetry.
By following activity guidelines, you allow your body to heal efficiently and achieve the best possible surgical results.
1. No Heavy Lifting or Straining (At Least 4-6 Weeks)
🚫 Avoid:
Lifting anything over 10 lbs, including grocery bags, children, and household items.
Strenuous arm movements (especially after breast or facial surgery).
Pulling, pushing, or stretching movements that strain incision areas.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Ask for help with carrying heavy objects.
Focus on gentle movements to avoid tension on healing tissues.
💡 Pro Tip: Even simple household tasks like vacuuming or doing laundry can involve lifting, so delegate chores during your recovery.
2. No Intense Physical Exercise (4-6 Weeks Minimum)
🚫 Avoid:
Running, weightlifting, cycling, and any high-impact activities.
Strength training or exercises that involve core engagement (for tummy tucks, liposuction, or abdominal surgeries).
Yoga, pilates, and stretching exercises that involve twisting or bending.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Take light, slow walks indoors to promote circulation.
Resume gentle movements only when cleared by your surgeon.
💡 Pro Tip: Even excessive stretching can damage stitches or sutures, so wait until you’re fully healed before resuming flexibility exercises.
3. Avoid Bending, Twisting, or Sudden Movements (2-4 Weeks)
🚫 Avoid:
Bending over at the waist (especially for abdominoplasty or liposuction patients).
Twisting your torso or excessive arm movement after breast surgery.
Sudden jerky movements that can put pressure on your healing incisions.
✅ What to Do Instead:
If you need to pick something up, bend at the knees instead of at the waist.
Use pillows for support when sitting or lying down to prevent discomfort.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’ve had facial surgery, avoid looking down at your phone for long periods, as this can increase swelling.
4. No Driving Until Cleared by Your Surgeon
🚫 Avoid:
Driving while on pain medications—they can impair reflexes.
Driving within the first 7-10 days, especially if wearing compression garments.
Sudden stops, turning, or steering that could strain incisions.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Arrange for a friend or family member to drive you to post-op appointments.
Wait until you can safely turn your body without discomfort before driving.
💡 Pro Tip: If your surgery affected your abdomen or upper body, turning the steering wheel may be painful—wait until you feel fully mobile and pain-free.
5. No Straining During Bathroom Activities
🚫 Avoid:
Constipation or straining while going to the bathroom (can put pressure on surgical areas).
Sitting on the toilet for long periods, especially after BBL or lower-body surgeries.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Drink plenty of water and eat fiber-rich foods to prevent constipation.
Use stool softeners if prescribed by your doctor.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’ve had a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), use a BBL cushion when sitting to avoid pressure on the healing fat grafts.
6. Avoid Excessive Talking, Chewing, or Facial Movements (For Facial Surgery Patients)
🚫 Avoid:
Chewing hard foods that require excessive jaw movement.
Excessive talking, laughing, or yawning if you’ve had facial or neck surgery.
Straining facial muscles with expressions like frowning or smiling too widely.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Eat soft foods that require minimal chewing (soups, yogurt, smoothies).
Use cold compresses to reduce facial swelling.
💡 Pro Tip: If you’ve had a facelift or rhinoplasty, avoid drinking through straws, as the suction can cause tension in healing tissues.
7. No Hot Showers, Saunas, or Hot Tubs (At Least 2-3 Weeks)
🚫 Avoid:
Hot showers, baths, steam rooms, and hot tubs.
Direct water pressure on incisions or surgical areas.
Soaking in water before stitches are fully healed.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Take lukewarm showers and avoid direct water pressure on wounds.
Gently pat dry incisions instead of rubbing.
💡 Pro Tip: Excess heat increases swelling and inflammation—opt for cool or lukewarm temperatures.
8. No Sleeping in Incorrect Positions
🚫 Avoid:
Sleeping flat on your stomach or sides (especially after breast or abdominal surgery).
Sleeping without support pillows for elevation.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Use a recliner or multiple pillows to keep yourself in a comfortable, upright position.
Back sleeping is recommended for most surgeries to prevent pressure on incisions.
💡 Pro Tip: If you had a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL), use a donut pillow or sleep on your stomach to avoid pressure on the buttocks.
9. Avoid Wearing Tight or Improper Clothing
🚫 Avoid:
Tight clothing that puts pressure on surgical sites.
Bras or compression garments that aren’t surgeon-approved after breast surgery.
Jeans or fitted pants that restrict circulation after liposuction or BBL.
✅ What to Do Instead:
Wear loose, breathable clothing that doesn’t irritate incision areas.
Stick to doctor-recommended compression garments for proper healing.
💡 Pro Tip: Compression garments help with swelling but should not be overly tight or uncomfortable—check with your surgeon for fit recommendations.
Following essential activity restrictions after plastic surgery is key to preventing complications, reducing pain, and ensuring a smooth recovery.
By avoiding heavy lifting, excessive movement, intense exercise, improper sleeping positions, and straining activities, you’ll give your body the best chance to heal properly.
Always follow your surgeon’s specific guidelines, listen to your body, and prioritize rest and gentle movement for a successful recovery!
