How long does it take to heal on the inside after tummy tuck?

Question

I can see my scar is healing well on the outside and wonder if it heals as fast inside where they lifted my skin up? I'm six week post op and it still hurts inside when I cough or laugh.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

IT takes 6 to 8 weeks before the wounds reach significant strength.  What is apparent on the outside is also what is happening on the inside.

Joel Patrick Maier, MD · Answer

While the abdominal skin may look
normal, the internal aspect where the operating occurred is still healing. One
way to look at it is to imagine that the healing of the visible scar mirrors
the healing that occurs internally with the muscle (only the internal aspect
may heal quicker by a few weeks/months). So this is normal in my opinion.

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank you very much for your
question.You are quite right that the
outside scar appearance does mirror what is going on inside your tissues.If the scar is slightly red or pink on the
outside it means that the tissues on the inside will also be fairly fresh and
this is the reason why six weeks post operation it still hurts inside when you
cough or laugh.

This discomfort is also partly due to
the fact that it is likely that your muscles have been repaired during your
surgery.

For more information on what this
involves please have a look at our website which has lots of videos of the procedure being
performed and may give you a better understanding of why you have remaining
discomfort in your tummy.AR

Emily J. Kirby, MD · Answer

The inside heals about the same rate as the outside.  Changes in the skin and tissues as they heal will occur for about 1 full year before they return to a more normal state.  In terms of activity, however, that does not mean that you have to avoid exercise for a full year!  Talk with your plastic surgeon about activity restrictions so you are sure you understand.  The discomfort with coughing and laughing will lessen over time.  That typically comes from the muscle plication underneath and is more a muscle spasm than a healing issue.  The muscles will calm down over time.  This can take several months before you notice improvement.

Tim Papadopoulos, BSc, MBBS, FRACS · Answer

Thanks for your question.Generally by 3 months you are 70-80% healed (both inside and out). The remaining 20% will take up to 18 months for the scar tissue to mature. This may be further delayed for up to 2 years or more if you have diabetes, hypertension, immunocompromised or a smoker etc.Hope this helps.

Robert E. Zaworski, MD (retired) · Answer

In general, it can take weeks to months to completely heal from Tummy Tuck surgery.  Every patient heals at a different rate, so visit your surgeon on a regular basis to confirm you are healing well.  Best wishes!

How long does it take to heal on the inside after tummy tuck?

Answers (6)

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