Swimming?

[ShouldBlittler 89]

How long after the surgery are you cleared to go swimming? I'm having my surgery June 20 and there is a lot of summer after that to spend with my three kids. Will I be able to go swimming with them this summer? Thanks.

[christine50 9]

As soon as the incisions are healed.

[JustSleeveMe23 15]

I think standard is 4-6 weeks. You could be cleared sooner though.

[MinaT 669]

I have a pool and I swim at a fitness club in the winter, it was my first question! I was told 4 - 6 weeks, depending on how I heal.

[emily_0192010 168]

My surgeon told me as soon as two weeks BUT if I want to have "pretty" scars I should wait 4-6. He said swimming can damage the baby skin and it would make the scar much more noticeable.

As for swimming for exercise he went to his old stand-by "if it hurts, don't do it". He said I was fine to just "hang out" in the pool as early as two weeks, but that I should hold off on swimming laps, etc until I was completely pain free.

No matter what though, clear it with your doctor first. Our surgeon's can be so fickle sometimes, its better to just get the okay from them.

Hope that helps!

[mmorral 19]

I was cleared @ 3 wks. I have been going to Water aerobics 3x a week since. The only scar that is not so pretty is the bigger one but I have been putting that scar cream on it and it is starting to look a lot better.

[LoriRay 27]

I also have a pool and that was one of my first questions. They said minimum 4 weeks. Its not the exercise they are concerned with, its the bacteria that can be in a pool or hot tub they worry about.

[NJsharon 119]

Yep, I am 17 days post op & just asked my Dr this question. I was told the incisions have to be completely healed, so no scabs left on them. Then I can go in a pool or bath.

[ShouldBlittler 89]

Yep' date=' I am 17 days post op & just asked my Dr this question. I was told the incisions have to be completely healed, so no scabs left on them. Then I can go in a pool or bath.[/quote']

How are your incisions 17 days out?

[NJsharon 119]

How are your incisions 17 days out?

They are almost completely healed, but do have very thin slight scabs still on 2 of them. Thinking 1 or 2 more weeks & they will be completely healed!

[Mews 37]

Six weeks for me. Another reason why they want you to hold off is that you increase the risk of infection. I had to wait until I was completely healed.

[MyGastricSleeveLife 180]

Mine said as soon as the incisions are healed, which he said is normally 2-3 weeks. I'll be 2 weeks out tomorrow & still have some with scabs, so I'm going to wait a little longer. He said I could do more heavy exercise at 4 weeks, so even when I get in the pool I'll be careful what I do for a while. It will be nice to just get in though!

[Enerfina 50]

omg i live in Miami n during the time that i got surgery march 5, 2012 it was sooo hot... three weeks after surgery i just had to get in the water! went to the beach submerged myself, did not literally swam but i floated, jumped at big waves, boggled around, it was fun! its memorial day weekend n i am hitting the pool! south beach is just too dangerous around this time..