Social Activity

Social activity should be limited while the patient is uncomfortable. Lifting anything that causes discomfort should be limited for approximately four to six weeks to allow the tissues to heal properly. Strenuous activity should be avoided during the initial six to eight weeks. Basically, most patients find that they can return to normal activity as the discomfort of the operation fades away. Office work can usually be resumed within 1-2 weeks of surgery, but the patient should expect a six-week delay before returning to physical labor or strenuous exercise. It will take longer than a year for scars to fade and the abdomen to feel relatively normal. The lower abdominal skin may feel numb forever and completely normal feeling is not to be expected.