Did I Damage my Muscle Repair?

I am 1 week post op. Today I had to lift my crying 6 mo. old who is 16lbs. I bent at the knees and just sat her on my lap and then moves her to her seat. My upper abs near my rib cage are more sore now after this. I think I am paranoid as well because I feel my skin is more squishy on my stomach now. Did I damage my muscle repair?

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by NHGirl82

Doctor Answers (9)
Community Comments (0)

Upper Abdominal Pain One Week Post Tummy Tuck

Unfortunately, this is a common story. Your plastic surgeon told you not to overdo things, but life keeps intervening. Your baby was crying, what else would you do. The good news is that I am 99% sure you didn't tear the muscle repair. In my practice, I put a figure of 8 stitches in with permanent sutures down deep, then I put a running locking suture over that to ensure a stronger repair in the event something like this happens. I am not unusual. Most... more

Did I Damage my Muscle Repair?

Call/see/return to your chosen surgeon ASAP for peace of mind. And please do not lift the child until you have the OK from your surgeon. Yes you MAY have split the muscle repair but iover the internet we can not answer for sure. I hope not. From MIAMI

Heavy lifting after tummy tuck / abdominoplasty

Most likely you are fine, but without examining you, it is hard to know for sure. You probably just strained the area which is causing some soreness. If you said you heard or felt a snap (like a suture breaking) then the situation might be different. If you have any concerns at all, then you should contact your surgeon. Good Luck.

Physical activity after a tummy tuck.

It is best to limit heavy lifting for several weeks after tummy tuck because of the risk of injury. It doesn't sound as if there was any harm to the muscle repair from your description, but it is best to have your surgeon examine you.

Muscle damage after tummy tuck

Excessive physical activity can, if extreme, result in disruption of the plication. This could manifest itself as a localized area of bulging. Your description doesn't seem completely consistent with this and could represent simply edema in the skin flap. Best to have your surgeon take a look.

Damage to tummy tuck muscle sutures

Ordinarily lifting is restricted for two weeks and patients are in a compression and support. If you were careful it is unlikely that you damaged your muscle repair at one week. Stressing the repair will result is soreness as will a deep cough. Get back into support and rest and the soreness should settle down. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd

Tummy Tuck, Abdominoplasty

For being one week out after a tummy tuck, you are doing very well. Always check with your plastic surgeon for advice that relates to you. In general, I would advise my patients to wear their compression garments and avoid lifting or exercise for several weeks. There is most likely fluid and swelling under the skin flaps. This is normal and nothing to worry about. Remember to find help and take it east for a while.

Abdominoplasty Muscle Repair

Usually, we try to place a couple of layers of sutures to support the repair of the fascia. When this repair is overstressed, there is usually a "pop" and possibly some swelling. The only way to be sure is to visit your surgeon. Your photo looks fine, but it's not adequate to really evaluate. Your surgeon should be able to reassure you. Meanwhile remember to take it easy!

Damage??

There is no way to know for sure at this point. We usually stress not lifting anything that weighs more than a what a gallon of milk weighs as this puts strain on the muscle repair and can tear the sutures. In my experience when this happens, patients usually feel a sudden pain or pop. At this point I would recommend not doing any lifting and allow the repair to heal.