It may take several weeks or perhaps even months before you will start to feel normal again. You should expect the swelling to take four to six months to completely resolve. Those individuals in good physical condition and with strong abdominal muscles will most likely experience a quicker recovery.
Although exercise helps improve post-surgical healing, you should avoid any type of strenuous activity, or vigorous exercise until you feel comfortable. It may be necessary to wait until you have approval from your surgeon to participate in such workouts.
During the first three to six months of the healing period, the surgical scars may appear to get worse. However, they will eventually smooth over and fade. With proper wound healing during recovery, they should be fairly discreet after nine months to one year. Remember, the scars will not disappear completely, but most types of clothing, as well as bathing suits, can often successfully conceal them.