How long is recovery after heart surgery?
Recovery from open-heart surgery (sternotomy) typically follows this timeline: 5-7 days in hospital, 2-4 weeks of limited activity at home, 4-8 weeks before driving and light activity resume, 8-12 weeks for sternal healing, and 3-6 months for full recovery. Minimally invasive and catheter-based procedures (TAVR, MitraClip) have significantly shorter recovery — often 2-5 days in hospital and 2-4 weeks to full recovery.
The complete answer.
Individual recovery varies based on age, pre-operative fitness, procedure complexity, and complications. Cardiac rehabilitation — structured exercise and education programs — significantly improves recovery outcomes and is recommended for all cardiac surgery patients (ACC/AHA Class I recommendation). Common recovery milestones include: walking independently (day 2-3), climbing stairs (day 5-7), driving (week 4-6 with surgeon clearance), return to sedentary work (week 6-8), and return to physical labor (week 10-16).
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