How Painful is a Tummy Tuck?

Hi!  Almost all of our patients in Manhattan who have had both a C section and a tummy tuck tell us afterwards that the abdominoplasty was less painful. But it certainly is uncomfortable.        

In general, there is more dissection involved with a tummy tuck than a c-section. However, people experience pain and discomfort differently. In c-section, there is an intraabdominal component to the operation and the fascia is cut. In abdominoplasty, the fascia is plicated leading to tightness. For the first few days after surgery you are going to feel like you had a big operation. However, by the next week, most people are doing just fine. Most patient do not even finish the first... more

A full tummy tuck involves tightening or plicating the abdominal wall fascia from the ribs to the pelvis. This maneuver causes most of the discomfort that is not associated with a c-section. The plication can be done in differing degrees but to get a nice flat abdomen it should be fairly snug. Some surgeons will use a pain pump to help decrease the amount of pain that a tummy tuck causes. I try to get a fairly tight abdomen and use a pain pump for three days after the procedure. The... more

Both surgeries involve cutting through the abdomen skin, fat. The C-section involves cutting through the muscle, entering the abdomen, cutting through the uterus, to then deliver the baby. A tummy-tuck involves suturing the muscles of the abdomen together to form a tighter abdomen. Recovery for a C-section is different since the patient is also recovering from pregnancy and now has a new child to take care of. It is a little like "apples and oranges." The only real similarity... more

In my experience it's tough to compare the two, simply because a C-section is associated with multiple other variables, including trying to heal while caring for your newborn. In general, my patients say that the pain of a tummy tuck is less than that of a C-section, but both procedures usually require time off from work, help around the house, and pain pills for at least a couple of days. I actually have discussed this very question with my wife who is an Ob/Gyn, and who agrees it's... more

Both are"real operations" and involve signicant discomfort. The C section is intraabdominal and involves manipulation and entry ino the viscera with temporary interruption of bowel function requiring overnite stay. In my practice, in the Bronx, abdominoplasty is done as an ambulatory proceedure and most patients say it is much less uncomfortable