Just to add one statistic to the mix here, my surgeon was fairly unconcerned about pushing things too fast - he said "You will know" when it's OK to resume certain activities and he wasn't worried about bursting any stitches - because there wouldn't be any. He said that any overdoing-it would just result in a few extra days of soreness.
I haven't been pushing it very much, but I did try practicing for 45 minutes 3 days afterwards, and didn't pay any price - but I didn't play very loudly or try any super high notes. After a week, I attend a full 2 hour rehearsal, but that's usual a matter of play for a few minutes, and listen to at least an equal amount of time of lecturing, repeating for the full time.
Haven't felt motivated to do a lot of playing of either kind ...
It was done laproscopically; not at lot of pain afterwards. Although the doctor issued a prescription for oxycontin, he said I could try just using the dosage of Ibuprofin for a back flare-up. I did, and it worked out fine. The first week or so, it was uncomfortable to wear a belt, so I didn't. (and have been wearing stretchy chinos).