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?

5 answers to “Localized muscle pain after Tummy...”

A: Pain after tummy tuck

David Shafer, MD

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... more

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

Shahram Salemy, MD

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... more

A: Pain after tummy tuck

Armando Soto, MD

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,... more

A: Pain after Tummy Tuck

Trevor M. Born, MD

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... more

A: Pain after Tummy Tuck is common

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

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... more

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Comments

rogy61
2 posts
21 Apr 2009

it is now 10 days after my first post.32 days post op and the pain is still there and as bad as before. the motrin helped at first but not anymore. it is still stabbing and burning in the same spot. my ps said all is in place and sutures are ok. he thinks i pulled something or twisted a suture.

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