When should pain subside from a Tummy Tuck? Are essential oils okay to use on a incision? If so, when?

Question

I had a tummy tuck w/ hernia and muscle repair about 2.5 weeks ago. I still have a lot pain when I move around. When can I expect the pain to subside? When will I be able to sleep in bed? I've been sleeping in a recliner with pillows, it hurts to lay in bed (even w/ extra pillows). Can I use the essential oils of lavender, frankincense, white fir, & helichrysum, along with vitamin e, and coconut oil on the incision 3 weeks post-op? I've read that they will help with healing and lessen the scar.

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS · Answer

Pain after a tummy tuck can last several weeks, and I usually recommend massaging with oils 3 months afterward.

Earl Stephenson, Jr., MD, DDS, MBA · Answer

Pain from a tummy tuck usually subsides over 6-8 weeks. Be careful not to try to move the recovery period forward to fast. The oils seem okay at this point but ask your surgeon.

Eric Desman, MD · Answer

Most patients start to feel substantially better 3-5 weeks after surgery, but everyone is different. I would follow  your surgeon's recommendation about what you can put on your scar and when you can/should do it. Each surgeon has a different recommendation.

When should pain subside from a Tummy Tuck? Are essential oils okay to use on a incision? If so, when?

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