If you decide to undergo a belly tuck, you should expect one to two months of recovery period, during which you may have pain. In general, discomfort following a belly tuck is minor to severe. Pain or sensory problems can sometimes last months or even years following the treatment. These problems are called "surgical site infections". They're more common if you take antibiotics before or after your surgery. Discomfort following a tummy tuck includes pain from the surgery itself and pain from muscles being re-shaped during the healing process. Most people can resume their normal activities right away after a tummy tuck. However, some post-operative tasks may make the pain worse for others. For example, someone who has a lot of skin removed may not be able to lift anything heavy for a few weeks after their surgery. During your recovery period, your surgeon will help you manage the pain. He or she may give you medications to reduce the pain and inflammation after surgery. You may also be given exercises to do at home to strengthen your stomach muscle group and help it heal faster. In most cases, tummy tucks cause little or no pain or discomfort once they've healed. However, if you have a lot of skin removed or extensive work done on your abdomen, then you might feel sore or bruised after your surgery. This usually goes away within a week but could take up to month or longer for all cases.