You should sleep on your back with your upper body elevated for several weeks after a tummy tuck. Sleeping on your stomach, side, or completely flat on your back can strain your incision, causing discomfort and the potential for infection. Sleeping slightly propped up after a tummy tuck helps minimize swelling at the surgery site.
Your plastic surgeon will advise you when it’s okay to resume sleeping flat on your back, side, or stomach. You may find it easier to sleep in a recliner during tummy tuck recovery as it allows you to relax into a comfortably hunched position and keeps you from inadvertently rolling onto your side. It's also simpler and more comfortable to get up from a recliner than a bed in those first few days.