I Am 18 Days Post-Op TT & Lipo and Still in Major Pain, is This Normal? (photo)

Question

I am in soooo much pain. I am walking with a walker. I can not walk from one room to another without sitting down. I can not pick up my 1 year old. My doctor has cut me off from pain meds. I am only taking tylenol. My TT cut goes almost all the way around me. I can barely get out of bed in the morning because I am so sore. Is it normail that I am in this much pain? How long will this type of pain last?

Jeffrey E. Schreiber, MD, FACS · Answer

You may still have some residual pain at this point.  I would return to your plastic surgeon to see if there is another cause of the pain like a fluid collection.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I'm sorry to hear about the continued pain after tummy tuck surgery. As you can imagine, online consultants will not be able to help you directly. My best suggestion would be to communicate ( and  preferably see)  with your plastic surgeon again. Direct examination will be important to rule out complication causing your symptoms. Otherwise, improved pain control seems to be indicated.

	Every patients' pain threshold and experience is different after tummy tuck surgery;  in my experience, it is not unusual for patients who require stronger pain medications and/or muscle relaxants for several  additional weeks.

	Again, call ( or have a family member call)  your plastic surgeon's office;  communicate the level of discomfort you are  continuing to experience.  Hopefully this communication will result in efforts to improve pain control.

	Best wishes.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

Sorry that you are in so much pain.  TT can be painful and uncomfortable.  However, by now, you should be starting to feel better, and should not be using a walker at this time.  It is important to control your pain and be able to walk around.  Talk to your plastic surgeon - there are several options for pain med.

C. Bob Basu, MD, MPH, FACS · Answer

It appears from your photos that you have undergone some form of an extended tummy tuck.  Looks like your incisions are healing well.  You need to call your plastic surgeon's office about your pain.    There may be other medications they can prescribe to get you more comfortable.  In addition, please follow your plastic surgeon's postoperative care instructions (i.e. compression garments, activity limitations, etc).  Best of luck.

	Dr. Basu

	Houston, TX

Tito Vasquez, MD, FACS · Answer

This severity of pain is unusual at this time point, but could be due to specific aspects of the surgery such as the tightening of abdominal muscles, which my patients frequently attribute to muscle spasms.  There are medications which help this type of pain better than narcotics.  Also occasionally specific nerves are pinched or injured simply on the basis of the incision needed to perform your surgery.

	I would try to discuss the specific pain characteristics that you are experiencing and hopefully you can get a satisfactory answer and possible treatments or strategies that will help with your discomfort better.

I Am 18 Days Post-Op TT & Lipo and Still in Major Pain, is This Normal? (photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Tummy tuck pain

Answer: Tummy tuck pain

Answer: Continued pain after TT/lipo

Answer: Continued pain after TT/lipo

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Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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I Am 18 Days Post-Op TT & Lipo and Still in Major Pain, is This Normal? (photo)

Answers (7)

Answer: Tummy tuck pain

Answer: Tummy tuck pain

Answer: Continued pain after TT/lipo

Answer: Continued pain after TT/lipo

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.