After a Tummy Tuck What Happens to the Stitches to Repair Ab Separation. I Am 34 Days out and Feel Them More.

Thank you for the question.

The sutures used for muscle plication are either permanent sutures or long-lasting absorbable sutures. Either way, the sutures usually do not cause any problems.  You will need to ask your plastic surgeon if permanent or dissolvable sutures were used in your case.  The answer to this question will determine whether you will continue to feel the suture;  if this becomes a long-term problematic issue,  it may have to be removed.

Rarely the sutures may come to the surface; If this does occur, the sutures must be removed.  If it is a single suture this can usually be done in the office under local anesthesia.  If the entire row of sutures are involved,  more anesthesia may be helpful/necessary.

I hope this helps.

Repair of separated muscles of the abdomen are usually permanent . However your surgeon may have done it differently.  He will be able to tell you exactly what he used and what will happen to them.  This is sometimes the case when women do not have a thick fat layer in that area. I would not worry about this.

Working Mom,

Be sure to ask your surgeon but typically Permanent Sutures are used to repair a muscle split or Diastasis Recti during a Tummy Tuck.

Most surgeons feel that Permanent Sutures are required to prevent a re splitting of the Muscle as Dissolving Sutures may allow the split to reoccur.

It is not unusual to feel discomfort for 2-3 months but eventually the pain resolves in most people.