How do I know if I ripped my internal abdominal muscle sutures after a tummy tuck? How easy is it to actually tear them?

Question

I had my tummy tuck and breast lift with lipo yesterday... and I have been trying to be extra careful with myself.....but! Every time I cough or laugh a little, it feels as though I am going to rip apart my stomach muscle sutures. Also, I leaned back too far getting back into bed after using the bathroom and it hurt like hell. How easily can they tear and how would I know if they did?

Thomas P. Sterry, MD · Answer

The first 3 days after a tummy tuck are clearly the toughest.  Your experience so far is quite typical for most patients as they find the things that they can do and are a little shocked at the things they can't.  The coughing and laughing pain is probably due to the tightening sutures for your diastasis recti, but I wouldn't worry too much about that being a problem.  The only way I've ever heard of someone breaking them is when they return to the gym a little too soon (about a month) after a tummy tuck.  As for the pain you feel when laying flat, that is related to the sutures that are holding the lower tummy scar closed.  While they could potentially come undone, it is more risk that you could bleed from the area if there is too much stress placed on them - as in standing too straight or laying down flat.In either case, the pain you feel is protective and reminds you not to do things that you shouldn't.  Take it easy for another couple of days and you will eventually see the light!  This gets better and you will be very happy!Good Luck!

Ron Soltero, MD, FACS · Answer

dear patient: what you're experiencing is totally normal.  I perform at least two TT with Lipo and Fat Transfer to the Buttocks a week, and your concerns are tottally normal.  What you are experiencing right now is normal since your surgeon tightened your abdominal muscles.  Those sutures are very stable, it will take a significan amount of effort to tear them! Hope this helps!

Stefan Mark Szczerba, MD · Answer

For standard plication it is really hard to rip apart!  I would try pressing a pillow into your incision areas while coughing and straining.  Additionally, try to stay bent at the waist for about 2-3 weeks and slowly straighten up.  When I've seen stitches tearing through, in training years ago, there was a lot of associated bleeding.  For more specific questions, I would definitely see your plastic surgeon!  Best Wishes!!

Ven Erella, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Your description is typical of first 3-5 days after TT. It is not that common to pull sutures out that easily. Please continue to follow instructions from your PS and follow up with him/her

How do I know if I ripped my internal abdominal muscle sutures after a tummy tuck? How easy is it to actually tear them?

Answers (4)

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