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?

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by rogy61 in clearwater,fl usa

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Pain after tummy tuck

Most likely this pain was from a pull of the muscle or on the plication. If your doctor saw you and he thinks you are OK, then you probably are.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Pain after tummy tuck

it is normal after abdominoplasty (tummy tuck) to experience some muscle discomfort. Pain should be controlled with pain medication and muscle relaxers. It sounds like you may have stressed your suture line which may have pulled the muscle leading to the pain you are experiencing. This should improve. It may be helped with some muscle relaxers such as Valium. However, you should discuss this with your surgeon. Good luck with your recovery.

It's common to have some discomfort after a tummy tuck

What you are describing does happen from time to time, and it usually represents a slight pull of the muscles or pulling on the sutures that have been used to tighten the muscles. If there is no obvious deformity of the abdomen, you should be fine, but there is no great test other than your surgeon's exam to determine if anything else is going on. Some patients will experience pain or even some burning, but this will go away as everything settles dwon over the next 6-8 weeks in most cases... more

Pain after tummy tuck

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 th more

Pain after Tummy Tuck

Dear Rogy61, There can be many reasons for pain after surgery- a muscle pull is one of them- also- infection, seroma, hematoma, suture failure and referred pain from another area or inflammed sensory nerve. The pain can also arise from inflammation of the veins that run from the breast down to the tummy. This is known as Mondor's disease. this will improve with Anti-inflammatories and massage. if there is no change in the area and no other symptoms then local massage and pain control is ... more

Pain after Tummy Tuck is common

An ultrasound might help to visualize the area but even so there is littlte that you can do or would do at this point in time so there are few reasons to obtain one. It is possible that you pulled a stitch. However, there are other stitches which should retain the result. Rarely does a whole operation depend on a single stitch. I would rely on your surgeon's evaluation who is in the best position to judge your outcome. It is also possible that sensation is returning and that you are... more