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How Can I Tell if I Tore my Tummy Tuck Internal Sutures or Worse?

asked 3 years ago by dgw texas in texas
Latest answer by Ankit Desai, MD
Question viewed 11,246 times
Tags: 2 weeks post-op, sutures, torn

I had a tummy tuck with muscle repair 2-1/2 weeks ago I slipped and fell flat on my back. I felt a pull in my abdomen. Could I have harmed my muscle repair or busted internal sutures?

20 answers to How Can I Tell if I Tore my Tummy Tuck Internal Sutures or Worse?

It is possible to tear some of your sutures but probably not all of them

Although it is possible that you might have torn one or two of them it is unlikely. Some surgeons, including me, use multiple independent sutures so that if one tears the other ones are still good. The best way of knowing if you need to have anything done is to wait for several weeks until the initial inflammation subsides. If you develope local bulging in the midline which gets worse with straining then you should have it evaluated by your plastic surgeon.

S. Sean Younai, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.beautifulself.com

Abdominal muscle repair duriing tummy tuck- did I rip out my stitches?

Tummy tucks are a two layer repair. The top layer is skin- that is the scar you see. The internal layer is corseting your muscles back together. All women after childbirth have some separation of their rectus muscles (the six pack). This separation is the "diastasis." When we repair the separation, we normally use very strong suture in two layers. I do one layer of interrupted sutures reinforced by a layer of running suture. You CAN pull out the... more

Lauren Greenberg, MD
Palo Alto Plastic Surgeon

There is an 8 week time period after surgery that it...

There is an 8 week time period after surgery that it takes for your muscle repair to gain its fullest strength. During that time you should treat it as though you had a hernia repair and not strain the abdomen with exercises or certain activities that stress the repair. These activities include gardening on your hands and knees and pulling weeds, playing sports that involve sudden lunging movements like tennis, and pushing and pulling a heavy vacuum. As long as your abdomen didn't... more

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Disrupting a Muscle Repair

Unfortunately, it is possible to disrupt the muscle wall repair. The unfortunate accident you sustained could have torn some of the key sutures. You can tell if you noticed new bulges or a change in your abdominal contour after the injury. Of course, you should consult with your surgeon as soon as possible. Upon examining you, your surgeon may be able to tell if there's been any damage to the repair.

Paul C. Zwiebel, MD
Denver Plastic Surgeon

It is very unlikely the abdominal repair sutures could be disrupted by a fall after tummy tuck (abdominoplasty).

I doubt you have much to worry about. It is possible to disrupt abdominal repair sutures but it would be most unlikely. In any event, it is not an emergency and you should wait to see how things look over the next few weeks. My guess is that you will be just fine. By the way, you need to be more careful.

Vincent N. Zubowicz, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Busted Muscle Repair Sutures

The farther you are from your surgery date, the harder it is to bust a muscle (plication) repair suture. Since the sutures used are not small, it takes a large blow or trauma to break them (or get them to cheese wire through the muscle lining). The last patient we had to do this was doing Tae Bo training and was accidentally kicked in the upper abdomen. There will often be a popping sound or feeling followed by a fullness (which could either be blood or the failed repair coming to the... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

Muscle repair in abdominoplasty

It is not uncommon to feel a pull or sharp twinge in the recovery. it is unlikely any sutures pulled through. May surgeons will place two separate sets of sutures such that if one breaks or pulls Thur there is redundancy to prevent a problem. if you had pulled through or disrupted a number of the internal plication sutures, depending on the degree of your healing,nothing may happen. or it could occur that you get a slight bulge or change in contour of that area. Your operating surgeon should... more

John E. Gross, MD
Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Muscle Tightening with Tummy Tuck

The muscle repair should not be strained for 6 weeks. In Jacksonville, we recommend our tummy tucks patients to wear a abdominal binder for 4 weeks during the healing process to allow for the muscle repair to heal and protect against accidental strains. There is generally a two layer tightening performed, so even if you did pull one stitch it will likely not effect your overall result. Unless you notice some bulging that you didnt see immediately before, you should continue to be on... more

Ankit Desai, MD
Jacksonville Plastic Surgeon

Tear of muscle repair with tummy tuck

Yes, it is possible for you to have torn the sutures. It is not necessarily an easy diagnosis to determine on physical examination and you may need a CT scan to help you make a definitive diagnosis. Discuss this with your surgeon who will perform an examination as the first step. see video

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Fall after tummy tuck

The muscle wall repair portion of the tummy tuck helps give excellent contour to the abdomen. Generally, this repair is accomplished with very strong sutures that are placed in two layers. While it is possible to "pop" these sutures, it would take a very significant force. At 2 1/2 weeks after surgery, the chance of ruining the repair are higher since the muscle wall repair has not reached full strength. If you notice a new bulges or changes in your... more

Naveen Setty, MD
Plano Plastic Surgeon

Falling after tummy tuck

The stitches used to tighten the muscles of the abdomen are really strong. It is very unlikely that you tore them. It is, however, possible. Falling after a tummy tuck will hurt, particularly in the middle of the tummy where the tension is highest. I would recommend you visit with your surgeon and get evaluated. You will probably find that everything is OK. If you would like more information about abdominoplasty (tummy tucks) I recommend that you visit the attached link. I... more

Adam Rubinstein, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

It is possible to break or tear the sutures used to tighten the muscles.

It is possible to break or tear the sutures used to tighten the muscles. Patient's have to be very careful in their activity intensity for about 5-6 weeks. It is possible to tear or break those sutures, but it is difficult and the results are usually not subtle (your belly returns to it's previous shape, or part of it does partially.) This is a question that you need to ask your surgeon in his/her office. This soon after surgery you should still be... more

Richard H. Fryer, MD
Salt Lake City Plastic Surgeon

Possible but not likely

With an abdominoplasty, the fascia surrounding the rectus muscles that run vertically on your abdomen is brought together in the midline to narrow the waist and improve the overall contour that is typically affected by pregancies. At 2 1/2 weeks the repair is not healed sufficient for vigorous exercise (typically at leat 6 weeks) and any significant abdominal straining should be avoided. Sorry that you fell on your back and I'm sure it hurts alot, but... more

David J. Levens, MD
Coral Springs Plastic Surgeon

www.drlevens.com

Damage to internal tummy tuck sutures?

A fall at 2-1/2 weeks after an abdominoplasty is going to give you pain regardless. Although unlikely, it is possible to either have your plication suture pull through or rupture. As stated by others, there are usually a few layers of sutures for built in redundancy. I would contact your surgeon for an exam and continue wearing the postoperative garment you were given.

David Bogue, MD
Boca Raton Plastic Surgeon

Damage After Surgery?

It would be tough for you to really cause a problem aftre surgery.Most often times people describe hearing a pop or feeling the actual suture rupture. You are probably fine.

Christopher V. Pelletiere, MD
Barrington Plastic Surgeon

Have your surgeon check any bulges after a tummy tuck

It is possible to have damaged or popped internal sutures if you have a significant fall only 2 1/2 weeks after a tummy tuck. The best thing to do is to see your plastic surgeon so that they may thoroughly examine you. Your plastic surgeon will look for bulges that may not present before and for asymmetry or differences between one side of your admin and the other. Depending on the technique that your plastic surgeon used, your muscle repair may have been done in multiple layers which could... more

B. Pat Pazmino, MD
Miami Plastic Surgeon

www.miamiaesthetic.com

Tummy Tuck internal sutures

The internal sutures are very strong and some of us put two layers so that if one layer fails the other will hold. At 21/2 weeks, you are still vulnerable and you should be seen by your plastic surgeon for evaluation and follow up. Only time will tell if you have ripped the sutures enough to require another surgery for repair.

Samir Shureih, MD
Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

Tear of internal tummy tuck sutures creates a pop and usually a visible bulge in the abdomen

Obviously you need to be examined by your doctor. However if in fact the muscle repair sutures were torn or broken, it is most likely that you would know. If this occurs the patient most likely feels a pop as the suture is broken. in addition, if the suture repair fails, a noticeable bulge is seen in the abdomen where the lax muscles give way.

Brooke R. Seckel, MD
Boston Plastic Surgeon

www.drseckel.com

Suture tears in tummy tuck

Tummy tuck sutures that are internal are susceptible to tearing. If you are worried about a possible tear of your plication, you should see your surgeon