How long does the soreness last from a tummy tuck with lipo?

Question

I had a tummy tuck with lipo on the flanks 5 weeks ago. I'm doing really well, standing straight and almost back to normal activities. I only take 600mg Ibuprofen twice a day. My PS says everything is healing fine but when will I not be so very sore in all the areas that had surgery? Is there anything I can do to speed up the recovery? I'm still a little swollen too but I guess that's normal. I can't stand anything around my waist.

William T. Stoeckel, MD · Answer

You are describing a rather normal recovery from your surgery. Every person has a slightly different recovery, but I would expect that you will still have some elements of soreness for about 3 months after surgery. For some patients, there are still some very slight nagging areas of soreness for even longer, but you should feel pretty normal at 3 months.

Marwan R. Khalifeh, MD · Answer

Pain, pulling, and tugging
along the incision quite common after tummy tuck surgery.  The discomfort
can get worse a few weeks after surgery as some of the nerves start to wake up
and work again. Pain can also increase because at three weeks out patients start
to get more active once again.

Sometimes the pain is
caused by tugging of a stitch that will eventually dissolve, sometimes it
can be caused by scar tissue. Generally these aches and pains and zings
will come and go for a few months after surgery, but usually they resolve.

You may feel more
comfortable if you speak to your plastic surgeon directly.  He or she
should be the one to recommend medication to you.

How long does the soreness last from a tummy tuck with lipo?

Answers (2)