Did I Ruin my Muscle Repair 3 Months Post-op Tummy Tuck?

Question

Hi, I am 15 weeks post-op tummy tuck with an umbilical hernia and muscle repair. Tonight, I fell hard and for about 5 minutes after, I had sharp pains on my left side near my belly button. It is Friday and I cannot contact my PS until Monday, so I am concerned about how likely it is that I ruined my TT and what signs to be aware of that would indicate damage. Thank you very much the experts on this site are AMAZING!

John Renucci, MD, FACS · Answer

Sorry to hear about your fall. As you probably know from reading information on this site, the rectus diastasis and umbilical hernias are typically repaired in multiple layers, so it is unlikely that you have "ruined" your repair.  In my experience, many patients treat their abdominal muscles with care over the first 3-6months.  Most limit situps, crunches, and core strengthening.  So during a fall, you may have stretched or stressed the repair more than you have since surgery.  I typically have my patients massage the area that hurts to desensitize the nerves, wear a supportive garment with even compression and call your plastic surgeon for followup.  Best of luck. Dr. Renucci

John J. Corey, MD · Answer

You should be fine...you probably hurt just you and not your result!!! Tenderness can continue for months after a TT but the tissues that have been tightened are usually fused after 6 weeks or so....All sounds very normal!

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

Thank you for the question.

	I am sorry to hear about your fall.  Although the pain that you experienced  is concerning, I think it is most likely that you have not done any serious damage.  I make this conclusion based on  the fact that you do not describe any significant swelling/ bulge/ bruising etc.

	Of course, it is not possible to give good advice without direct examination  which should be performed by the plastic surgeon in the near future. If you are otherwise doing well then this is probably not an emergency.

	During your examination,  your plastic surgeon will be able to  palpate the area and see if there is any evidence of muscle repair separation. This may become more obvious in the bent over (diving) position  or with coughing/straining maneuvers.

	I hope this helps.

Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS · Answer

Jerah, you are wise to be concerned, as pain is one of the warning signs of tissues being stretched or torn, but also of simply being irritated or stimulated without damage having occurred.Or anything in between!

	Certainly your surgeon has an answering service, and your surgeon (or designated coverage plastic surgeon) can address your concerns with additional questions and answers. Examination and allowing time to go by may well be the only way to provide a better answer, since no surgeon would re-open an abdominoplasty unless there is conclusive proof of need to re-operate, such as for hematoma or infection. The latter is not at issue here, but tearing the muscle repair is the concern, and only examination and time will give the answer.

	As to estimating the chances of damage, without more back-and-forth discussion and examination, this would be a total guess. The fact that your pain was gone in 5 minutes is probably a good sign, More severe damage would likely cause continued symptoms. An expanding lump or bruise could be sign of a hematoma, which could be bleeding caused by the trauma of your fall. Other than that, anything unusual that you didn't notice before would warrant a call to your surgeon or the answering service.

	Good luck and best wishes!

Robyn Watts, MD · Answer

It is very unlikely you caused any major damage from your fall. You may have caused some tenderness from a "pull", however; at 3 months the muscles are essentially healed. Most repairs are typically healed by 6-8 weeks post op. Tenderness from tummy tucks can last for a few months after sugery. If your tenderness continues, please contact your surgeon for follow up.

Did I Ruin my Muscle Repair 3 Months Post-op Tummy Tuck?

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Did I Ruin my Muscle Repair 3 Months Post-op Tummy Tuck?

Answers (8)

Answer: Damage to tummy tuck from accidental fall!

Answer: Damage to tummy tuck from accidental fall!

Answer: Fall After Tummy Tuck

Answer: Fall After Tummy Tuck

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