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

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

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!

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.