Pain after tummy tuck

Armando Soto, MD answers: Localized muscle pain after Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift

Today is my 22nd day post-op from a full Tummy Tuck and Breast Lift. Five days ago, I bent over and seemed to pull something. Right afterwards I felt a stabbing pain on my right side 3 inches down from my ribs close to my midline. It is localized to one spot.

The pain is stabbing and burning, and has not gone away for 5 days straight. I saw my plastic surgeon and he said the stitches were intact, and I probably pulled a muscle. I am in a lot of pain, but the rest of the area is tolerable pain and getting better. Is there any way to check to see if something is wrong. Would an untrasound help?


Armando Soto, MD
7 months ago

Hi there-

It sounds like you probably strained your suture line, or less likely, that you tore it a bit. If the contour of your abdomen still looks as good as it did before, I think it's unlikely you tore through the suture line, especially as the repair usually does not rely on only one suture...

In any case, I don't think there is anything to be done right now- I would follow your surgeon's advice carefully and keep all of your appointments for follow up. After a suitable healing period, if there is a problem that needs to be dealt with, your surgeon will be in the best position to do so for you safely and comfortably, with their greater understanding of the initial procedure you had.

Hopefully it's just a bit of a strain at your suture line and you'll progress to a beautiful outcome.

 

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