Why don’t I feel any pain from my tummy tuck?

Question

I came out of surgery with no pain in my abdomen (i got Exparel) and now on day 7, I still have no pain at all except when I cough. I take a few Valium and hydrocodone each day for the breast implant pain but I’m shocked that I feel nothing where I should be having severe pain. So my question is- could this be a sign that my surgeon did not perform the plication correctly?Or could it be that because I’ve had 2 c-sections and carried twins to 36 weeks that my pain receptors are all dead?

Jane M. Rowley, MD · Answer

You are over thinking this.  Be happy, the lack of pain is probably because of the exparel and some people just have a higher pain tolerance.  Its probably the twins, they toughen you up a lot! I have 13 year old twin daughters.  Good luck, Jane

Jerome Edelstein, MD · Answer

Hello,Thank you for your question and photos. I wouldn't necessarily say that you should be experiencing "severe" pain. Most of my Tummy Tuck patients report a sensation of tightness which is uncomfortable more than painful. The benefit of a long-acting anaesthetic is that you can bypass the post op period when you would have felt the most discomfort. If you don't need strong pain medication then you don't need to take it. People who have experienced childbirth and experienced healing from a C-section often seem to have a higher tolerance for Tummy Tuck discomfort. No need to worry! Enjoy.All the best

Naveen Setty, MD · Answer

Congrats on your surgery!  Based on your pictures, it looks like you have a nice early result.  Exparel definitely helps with the early pain control after a tummy tuck.  We all respond to pain differently and your previous experiences with twins has probably toughened you up.  Happy healing!

Juan Carlos Fuentes, MD · Answer

After surgery, the patients have a different level of pain, from many reasons. One it can be the type of anesthesia used for the procedure, a spinal block helps a lot to decrease the pain below the ribcage, and many patients do not have that much discomfort after the surgery. In some other patients, the pain from on area takes over the pain in another, so you may have more pain on the chest area and that makes you to have less attention to the discomfort on your tummy area, another reason is the pain killer that you take that can decrease the pain levels very well. As you already had surgery on your abdomen, that can make you more used to the discomfort on your abdomen and now the pain is much less important for you than the pain on the chest area. In the photos, you seem to have a very nice muscle repair on the abdomen muscles.

Paul Gill, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question.   Based on your photos, the majority of patients would have some discomfort, even with Exparel, due to the bruising.    You have a high pain threshold and after having twins, I honestly think nothing can phase you :))   Give your body time to heal properly.   All the best

Tania Medina de Garcia, MD · Answer

Hello Dear.
Thanks for your question and provided information as well.
I have to say that you are still early on healing process, it is too soon to determine how your results are going to be, swelling for example is normal at this moment, the fact that you are not feeling pain may be due to the medication, I recommend you to wait and keep using your post surgical garment. 
Talk to your PS for any doubts in regards to your case.
Good Luck.-

Matthew H. Steele, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question and photos.  From what I can see, you have a nice early result.  Patients experience pain differently:  some patients have mild discomfort like you describe while others complain of more significant pain.  The fact that you have pain when you cough would indicate that your plication is tight enough.  Best to check with your surgeon regarding specifics.   Good luck.

Alexander M. Sailon, MD · Answer

Consider yourself lucky! I would not take a lack of pain to mean that the plication was done incorrectly. People react very differently to the same surgery, particularly with regard to tummy tucks. The Exparel certainly helps with pain relief. 
Count your blessings and be sure that you don't overdo it!

Why don’t I feel any pain from my tummy tuck?

Answers (8)

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