Before your procedure you may have been a regular at the gym, gone running often or attended every group class. That came to a pause with your operation. Gradually you begin to pick up your life again — but when can you exercise?
Before your procedure, you may have been a regular at the gym, gone running frequently, or attended every group class. Your surgery put that on pause for a while. Frustrating, but a necessary inconvenience. Little by little, you begin picking up your life again. You can gradually do more, you notice that your body can handle more, and you start feeling better and better. You would also love to get back to exercising. Is that allowed yet? We answer your questions about exercise and cosmetic surgery in this blog!
'Why am I not allowed to exercise after surgery?'
After an operation, you are not permitted to exercise for a while. Surgery can be very demanding on the body. In general, it is recommended not to exercise or lift heavy objects during the first four to six weeks after an operation. The length of the rest period depends on your treatment and how intensively you exercised before the surgery. Always consult your doctor about what they recommend.
'Can I return to full exercise immediately after this period?'
Returning to full exercise immediately after surgery is generally not recommended. This is because your body needs rest to recover, including healing the wound, and because your body needs to readjust to this form of exertion. Your muscles in particular will have gone through a great deal. Try to build up your exercise gradually. Start with walking and light movement, for example. Listen to your body. If something causes significant pain or simply does not feel right, stop immediately.
Am I now stuck with a gym membership whilst I cannot exercise?
No, fortunately that is not the case. If you have a regular gym membership, we can always write a letter on your behalf to suspend your membership for a certain period.
'What can I do before my surgery to get fit quickly again?'
Strangely enough, you can already work on your recovery process before your surgery. This process is called prehabilitation. It helps your body cope with the consequences of your medical procedure and promotes the recovery process. The key pillars of prehabilitation are building muscle mass and improving your fitness. Patients often recover more quickly as a result. Strength training helps to strengthen the muscles, so that your body enters the surgery in better shape. During recovery, muscle mass is lost quickly. You can build up your fitness by cycling, running, or climbing stairs, for example. Building muscle mass is most effective with strength training and so-called compound exercises: exercises that train multiple muscle groups. Think squats, lunges, bench press, and deadlifts.
'And afterwards?'
By taking good care of your body, you help it recover from the surgery as quickly as possible. Healthy and sufficient nutrition is essential in this regard. If you know that you will not be in a position to cook yourself, ask friends and family to bring food or have fresh meals delivered. The most important thing during your recovery is to listen to the signals your body gives and act accordingly. That way, you will soon be back safely and healthily on the treadmill.