Is it ok to pop stitches after muscle repair and tummy tuck?

Question

Hi im 3 days pp. Tummy tuck,Lipo and Mr. Few hours after the operation I went into a fit of coughing omg very painful.I was holding down my top tummy and a big pop sound.. Horrible will all my stitches undo or just the one tuat popped. The doç çame in at the time and said italiane normal and happens so i feel i got no answers ???

S. Larry Schlesinger, MD, FACS · Answer

The answer to your question depends on how your plastic surgeon corrected your rectus diastasis (muscle separation).  Obviously, the muscle repair is one of the most important pieces of a tummy tuck.  If the muscle repair comes apart, you will have a bulge, either above or below the belly button or both.I believe it is most unlikely that your muscle repair would fall apart if your tummy tuck was done by a well trained and experienced Board Certified plastic surgeon.  Every plastic surgeon has his or her own technique for muscle repair, so only your plastic surgeon would know the likelihood of their own technique to have their muscle repair unravel secondary to a coughing fit.The process by which all plastic surgeons repair abdominal muscles is more art than science.  By that I mean, we all grab a certain amount of fascia covering the rectus muscles and bring one side together with the other.  The tensions on these two pieces of fascia on either side is never equal, therefore coughing could lead to a tear in some of the fascia and still keep the muscles together.  My personal, hopefully tear proof technique, is first sewing the two sides of the fascia together with a thread as thick as kite string in a figure of 8 fashion to decrease the chance of this layer coming apart no matter what kind of lateral or diagonal movement your abdomen makes.  Then I cover this layer with a layer of suture that is strong and, by its nature, unable to pull apart.  This is done from the bottom of the sternum to the belly button, and then from the belly button to the pubic area.  All the doctor mumbo jumbo above means it is unlikely to pop a single stitch and have your entire muscle repair separate, and very often a popping sound plus pain is unrelated to muscle separation.At this point, take a deep breath, trust your surgeon, and stop worrying.

Afshin Parhiscar, MD · Answer

Dear sandra76The first few days after abdominoplasty are difficult and coughing only adds to the pain and discomfort. At this point, you should listen to your doctors advice and be patient. Once you have healed more and swelling has settled you can assess the outcome. If  at 3-4 months you and your surgeon see a problem, you can address at that point.

Gary Lawton, MD, FACS · Answer

The popping sensation and sound are concerning.  However, the only way to tell is by the appearance of the abdomen, and that at 6 months.  It is overly aggressive to open everything up and look to see if the muscle repair is intact.

Robert Drielsma, MBBS, BSc, FRACS · Answer

During tummy tuck surgery, mulitple sutures are used to repair the abdominal wall so its unlikely that you have "popped" any let alone all the sutures.  The loss of one suture is not likely to cause significant concern but if you did indeed "pop" multiple sutures then it may cause an abdominal bulge.  Discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and continue to follow your post operative guidelines.

Aramis Vega, MD · Answer

It is my pleasure to answer your question. If your plastic surgeon evaluated you and told you everything is ok then there is no problem. you must follow all orientations from him.

Is it ok to pop stitches after muscle repair and tummy tuck?

Answers (8)

Answer: "Popping" sutures after tummy tuck surgery

Answer: "Popping" sutures after tummy tuck surgery

Answer: Tummy Tuck

Answer: Tummy Tuck

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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

Is it ok to pop stitches after muscle repair and tummy tuck?

Answers (8)

Answer: "Popping" sutures after tummy tuck surgery

Answer: "Popping" sutures after tummy tuck surgery

Answer: Tummy Tuck

Answer: Tummy Tuck

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Tummy Tuck

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