On Average, How Long Can I Expect Pain from Tummy Tuck to Last?

IF pain control is any indication, it appears that most patients require more extensive medications during the first 7-10 days after which they taper their use until about 3 weeks.

Tummy tuck surgery is one of the most rewarding surgeries performed in plastic surgery and has one of the highest patient satisfactions. However, it is definitely the most painful as well! The tightening of the muscle produces significant pain and may persist until the muscles are fully healed. This can be as long as three months or more and varies from patient to patient. It generally is worst for the first two weeks and then gets progressively better with time. I always use a pain pump for my tummy tuck patients which slowly drips pain medicine into the wound for three days. I also recommend the use of muscle relaxants like Flexeril post operatively.

Thanks to a new pain medication, Exparel, the pain from a tummy tuck is less and more controlled.  Exparel is placed at the time of surgery and allows for 3-4 days of pain relief without the need for a pain pump or narcotic pain pills.