Can sneezing without Tummy Tuck binder ruin results?

I sneezed without the binder on two different occasions, for bandage re-dressing and shower. I'm afraid I busted a stitch. Can you bust a stitch from a sneeze? What would it have felt like? How long would the pain have lasted? The sneeze hurt, but only for a few seconds then I was fine. My doctor said that if I busted a stitch, the Tummy Tuck will be totally ruined and I will need a whole new tummy tuck. Now I'm freaking out, my procedure wasn’t bad, but I sure as heck don’t want to do it again.

4 answers to “Can sneezing without Tummy Tuck...”

A: No, this would be very unusual

By Nina S. Naidu, MD - New York City Plastic Surgeon

Hi, It would be very unusual for you to tear an abdominal stitch after sneezing. In general, these are very strong stitches which require a significant load on the abdomen, such as during very heavy lifting in the first few weeks after surgery, in order to break. If you did break a stitch, you... more

A: Unlikely but possible

By Michael S. Beckenstein, MD - Birmingham Plastic Surgeon

A suture can be torn with stress from sneezing , coughing, exertion ion general. Patients usually can tell when this happens. Th4ey report a taering sensation and extreme pain that is not short lived. Subtle taers can occur but might not be evident at all or can manifest several weeks or months after the... more

A: This is usually not subtle...

By Armando Soto, MD - Orlando Plastic Surgeon

Hi there- It is certainly possible for you to rupture you muscle repair while forcefully contracting your muscles, as in a sneeze or cough, but this would be unlikely to occur after a single sneeze or cough, as most Board Certified Plastic Surgeons perform their repairs in a "redundant" manner,... more

A: Your surgeon knows best

By Robin T.W. Yuan, MD - Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

While you can potentially break a stitch or have it pop out of the tissues by contracting the muscles or exerting forceful pressure across the suture line, whether or not it will affect the healing and the result depends on the repair that was done. Some surgeons use individual interrupted sutures to repair... more

Comments

marymartini
3 posts
13 Jul 2009

This is excellent info! I am 4 weeks out from my TT surgery and caught a cold and cough. I too was very afraid that I may have torn a stich with the sneezing, but from what these drs have said, they put my fears at ease. I also see where my dr used 2 layers of stiches. thank god! I had it done 10 years ago by another dr and it came apart! So I had to have it redone. I never planned on that! Another $6000K. Wish I had this dr in the first place.

marymartini
3 posts
13 Jul 2009

Good info. thanks! I was worried that after my TT I caught cold and sneezing and coughing. My dr told me that he did 2 rows of sutchers. I had this done 10 yrs ago by someone else and it came 'untucked! had to do it over. I believe he only used one row of stiches and thats how it came apart. My whole abdomn blew out and i was completlty rounded in front. Happy with the new dr and his work!

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