How Long After Tummy Tuck Does Pain and Soreness Usually Last?

This is not at all uncommon.
When looking at your belly, you see the incision and everbody expects the pain to be down low. Quite the opposite is true due to several factors.
The lower abdomen is actually numb due to the surgical "lifting" of the tissues. However, the nerves of the upper abodmen are relatively more intact making the upper abdomen feel more painful than the lower. The pain in the upper abdomen is usually due to the uppermost repair of the rectus muscles. This will worsen with spasms and may take up to 3 months to ease but is generally worse during the first 10 days.
As the nerves recover, they progress from the outside to the inside (hips toward the belly button) and from the top to the bottom. Sometimes the area immediately below the belly button never recovers completely but that is seldom a problem.
Sensations of " pins and needles" are very common dring the recovery period and tend to be worse if liposuction was performed. This can be most active from 10 days to 3 weeks after surgery. Long term some people report phantom sensations/pain from transposition of the tissues from the upper to lower abdomen. For example you may think your rib cage is itching but you need to scratch your groin area to relieve it.

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your procedure. Pain and soreness after abdominoplasty is quite common. However, if your pain persists or worsens, I would advise you to follow up with your surgeon. Hope this information helps. 

Hi MissBeleve, Thank you for your questions about pain and soreness after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.  Pain after a tummy tuck is normal.  This is due to the rectus abdominis muscles being tightened with permanent suture.  The tummy tuck pain is also due to the abdominal skin being removed and sutured back together to achieve a flat tummy.  The reason you are in pain at the top of your belly just below your chest is that the rectus abdominis muscles is sewn together from just underneath the sternum (xiphoid) to the top of the pubic bone. The pain you are experiencing is normal and is in a normal location.  This pain usually subsides 3 to 4 weeks after a tummy tuck. If you are in extreme pain,  please consult with your plastic surgeon.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding pain and soreness in the upper abdomen after a tummy tuck.  If you have any more questions regarding the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen.