Causes of Prolonged Soreness After Tummy Tuck?

asked 3 years ago by Angie Z in Atl, Ga
Latest answer by Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Question viewed 735 times

I had a tummy tuck 1 1/2 years ago, I still have soreness on the right side of my abdomen along with an area that protrudes out. The left side is beautifully flat.

The area on the right is tender and does feel somewhat lumpy in areas. I had a problem with drainage but eventually stopped. The doctor did a scar revision and at the time said he didn't feel anything.

I am going back in 2 weeks to see if the area needs additional surgery. Another doctor said it might just be my abdominal wall but I find that hard to believe. Any ideas what could cause this prolonged soreness and protrusion?

5 answers to Causes of Prolonged Soreness After Tummy Tuck?

Asymmetric one-sided fullness of abdomen after tummy tuck

This sounds unusual and occasionally I have seen this in an area where a patient has previously undergone an appendectomy or cholecstectomy and may have fascial weakness (or possible incisional hernia). You may require an ultrasound or CT scan to evaluate this fullness. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Prolonged soreness after a tummy tuck

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. During a tummy tuck, we routinely reposition the muscles and deep structures of your abdomen. If you continue to have soreness after a tummy tuck, you may be experiencing the effects of the muscle tightening techniques. If this continues to be an issue, make a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a great deal of experience in abdominoplasty and tummy tuck revisions. They will assess your... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Soreness after a tummy tuck

Soreness a year and half afte a tummy tuck is not very common but can occur. Sometimes a residual seroma may cause this other times it can be an injured sensory nerve. These are just a few of the more common causes.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

What can cause of prolonged soreness after tummy tuck?

From what you have described: a previous fluid collection in the right abdomen area, a lumpy mass in this place, and long standing pain, I'm sure the cause of the pain is a nerve trapped in scar. The way most people do a tummy tuck, the skin in the abdomen is lifted from above the pubic mound to the rib margins. The problem is that since a lot of nerves come from the muscle layer to the skin, some of these nerves are cut. In your case the raw nerve ending got caught up in the scar that... more

Ricardo Rodriguez, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

www.cosmeticsurg.net

Tummy Tuck soreness may be from nerve injury

You may have had a nerve injury on the right side from your Tummy Tuck. That of course does not explain the bulging. It may also be that you had a seroma (collection of fluid) that produced some scar tissue, but if you already had a scar revision on that side, your surgeon would have seen that.

David S. Rosenberg, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

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