↳ Recovery timelineDay 42 post-op
6 weeks
Most surgeons clear normal lifestyle. Gym remains restricted.
Six-week check-in is the standard surgeon follow-up. Most patients get cleared for full daily activity. Many get cleared for lower-body weight training and light upper-body movement (push-ups not yet, light dumbbell rows often okay).
Result is now ~60% landed. You can look in a shirt and feel okay about it.
Expect to feel
- Significant confidence return
- Tightness when lifting arms overhead at end of range
What's normal
- Firm internal scar tissue
- Slightly raised pink scars
What's not normal — see your surgeon
- New swelling appearing after activity
Emergency — go to ED
No 24/7 emergency signals specific to this milestone — but general post-op red flags (sudden severe pain, breathing change, fever) always apply.
↳ What this milestone typically looks like
6-week photo: clearly your final shape forming. Profile flatter.