Tummy Tuck: Q&A

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Have I Compromised my Muscle Repair?

I am 5 weeks post-Tummy Tuck with muscle repair. I have been doing very well but when having a normal bowel movement the other day I heard what sounded like a stitch pop in the area above my belly button, I also heard this again when I sneezed the next day. Have I compromised my muscle or could this be other dissolvable stitches? I have done nothing to strenuous to jeopardise my Tummy Tuck results, yet it still feels tight inder the skin at this point.

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14 Doctor Answers | Asked by PollyPocket in Australia

Doctor Answers (14)
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"Popping" Sounds Alone are Usually OK

If you disrupt the plication or repair, you will know it! "Popping" sensations do opccur after exertion, sneezing, laughing, etc. The muscles continue to contract around the plication (repair) sutures and cancreate that sensation. If you truly disrupt the repair, you will feel a significant tearing and often see a bulge in the area....you will know it! If there is ever concern about it, contact you surgeon immediately.

A stitch goes pop: Muscle repair with tummy tuck

Generally scar tissue is well formed by 5 weeks after surgery and it is not likely that you compromised your muscle repair. It is important to maintain the results of your repair by performing core strenghtening exercises which will enhance the results of your repair. Pilates or Yoga is excellent in this regard. Performing aggressive traditional stomach exercises like crunches and affect your result producing a bulging stomach muscle. Notify your surgeon and keep an eye on your belly but... more

A few popping stitches are OK after tummy tuck

At 5 weeks after a tummy tuck, it is common to still feel some tightness. Scars - even inside ones - take many months to soften. As for the popping sound - it can be stitches. However, most plastic surgeons use many sutures to reshape the muscle layer and typically place two layers. So, feel comfortable that as long as your abdominal shape has not changed, one or two "popping" sounds will not change your results. It is always a good idea to discuss this with your surgeon as well... more

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Popping post-op

Abdominoplasty involves "plicating" the rectus muscles with suture and is a regular part of the procedure as performed in my San Francisco area practice. This repair is typically most vulnerable at week 2 after your surgery. This is because the normal healing process can actually make the tissues the suture passes through more weak for a period as scar tissue deposits. People are also generally feeling better and becoming more active at this point. Most surgeons would not... more

You've not likely hurt anything

Most surgeons perform "muscle tightening" during tummy tuck procedures - some use absorbable sutures whereas others use permanent sutures. In most cases, the repair is almost "bomb-proof" - enough to withstand sneezing, coughing, movement, etc. You may have broken an absorbable suture, pulled a little fascia (which is your abdominal wall covering)... or something completely unrelated. It is very unlikely the you have created a problem. Rest easy and recover according... more

Probably Okay

Hi there- I think it's doubtful you disrupted your repair, as most often this would have been accompanied by significant pain. I would, however see your surgeon for an evaluation.

Let your surgeon know that you have experienced a problem or have a concern

You are still in the early healing process following your abdominoplasty. It is very normal to feel varying degrees of tightness, as well as tugging. There are several points however that need to be considered: There different ways to repair the muscle layer. Most plastic surgeons will close the fascia (the dense white fibrous tissue that surrounds the muscle) in layers. I typically use a running over and over type suture similar to a baseball stitch. When this is done the tension in one... more

Tummy tuck and stitch popping

The sound you heard was probably a stitch popping. At 5 weeks you probably are OK, but it would be a good idea to see your doctor so that he/she can check you out.

Steven Wallach, MD

13 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

It is very unlikely that the muscle repair 5 weeks after an abdominoplasty could be compromised.

It is possible for a stich to break 5 weeks after a tummy tuck especially if it is not permanent. However, at 5 weeks, the body has pretty securely fixed the repair with collagen. It is not our of the question that a repair could be disrupted but it would be most uncommon. I can't imagine that sneezing or straining in the bathroom could do this.

After Tummy Tuck Surgery

After tummy tuck surgery it is very important to refrain from strenuous activity and intense stretching as to not disrupt the healing process. It is normal to feel tightness on the abdomen for quite some time after your tummy tuck surgery, until your muscles heal and relax. Several layers of sutures are used to tighten the abdominal wall, so if indeed it was a stitch that caused the popping sound, your results likely have not been disrupted, but it wouldn't hurt to check in with you... more

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