Pain from Muscle Repair Stitch After Tummy Tuck Doctor Answers, Tips
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Pain from Muscle Repair Stitch After Tummy Tuck

I have a sore spot on the left side of my belly button that has been sore for a few days. I am six weeks post Tummy Tuck. It burns sometimes, and stays sore a lot. The nurse said it was a stitch from my muscle repair and will stop hurting in time. How long will it take before the pain resolves? It is the only real pain I have from any of this, with the exception of minor swelling. I was just wondering how long I might expect to feel it.

7 Doctor Answers | Asked by Angeella in USA
+4

Tummy Tuck Pain

Thanks for your question. There can be several things that contribute to abdominoplasty pain. In the immediate post-op period the incision itself can cause some pain. This can be controlled by injection of local numbing medication, pain pumps and post-op pain medication. The typical more lasting pain (usually for about 1 - 3 months) can be the muscle plication. Part of an abdominoplasty includes tightening of the muscle. This involves large permanent sutures into the muscle and the... more
+3

Tummy Tuck pain is individually variable

Hi there, The pain you are describing is difficult to diagnose without knowing the technique used and performing an exam, and so we should go with your doctor's assessment. It is not uncommon with Tummy Tuck surgery to have pain with certain movements, or tenderness over certain areas of the muscle repair for several months after surgery. Over time, as the internal scar tissue matures, this will resolve. Congratulations on your new form!
+2

Pain in the abdomen after muscle repair

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective technique to contour the abdomen. During the surgery, patients will receive a repair of their muscle layer with different suture techniques. If you have placed too much stress on your abdomen, it is possible to pop one of these muscle sutures. Rest assured that this layer has multiple sutures and the loosening of one suture should not affect the entire result. If you continue to have discomfort at this point, your best bet is to return to your... more

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+2

Muscle stitch pain after tummy tuck

At 6 weeks you are still early post-op.  You will feel many different sensations over the next several months as the nerves "awaken."  It sounds most likely that the discomfort you have is from the muscle repair.  Keep a close follow-up with your doctor to make sure that is all it is.
+2

Pain from muscle repair stitch not uncommon

The pain you describe is often associated with stitches within the layer of tissue that tightens your abdomen. These stitches can pull with ordinary movements. The pain you describe is the result. Of course, when you see your doctor, let him/her examine it fully. But at this time, I would not worry, it will go away.
+1

Pain after tummy tuck

It is true that residual aches and pains may linger after a tummy tuck for up to three months, particularly if the muscle was plicated and tightened. However, some patients develop reactions to Prolene or other suture material. I saw a patient this week who has had recurrent abscesses for three years after abdominoplasty with drainage and Prolene may be the culprit. (And never mind that the general surgeon who performed the tummy tuck now wants nothing to do with the patient and told him... more
+1

New pain after tummy tuck

New pain in an area of the central abdomen is quite common as the nerves recover and your actiivity increases. Keep in close contact with your surgeon to ensure that this is not a sign of a more serious condition but in all likelihood, it will resolve with time (approximately 3-6 weeks). see video
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Comments (1)

Mamae06 1 May 2013
Hi! I am 7 days post tt and feel the same exact way. Everything seems fine except the constant annoying pain (sore & burning...sometimes dull pain) on my right side of my belly button. I even want to hold that area in with my hand to try to make it feel better...but doesn't really work. It feels a tad better with a binder...but still there. Can you let me know what you did...or when that pain went away? Thank you so much!!

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