Can Vomiting Tear Abdominal Muscle Sutures?

Yes, in  rare instances violent contractions or force on the rectus muscle repair can result in a disruption of the surgery which may be difficult to diagnose intially.

Thank you for the question.

Based on your description, I do not believe that any harm has been done. However, your plastic surgeon will be able to reassure you more after direct examination. During this examination a localized “bulge"  of the abdominal wall ( with you in the flexed/bent  position or straining/coughing)  may indicate that muscle separation has occurred.

Generally however the muscle plication performed is quite secure  and typically does not come apart with vomiting episodes.

I hope this helps.

If you were having violent bouts of vomiting after a mini tummy tuck, it was possible but rare to have torn your muscle repair.  Ask your surgeon to examine you.

Hello,
This question is asked not uncommonly. I have seen patients who may have stretched their repairs a bit, but I have not seen one who actually ripped it apart. Then again it would be hard to tell without going back in there (in another operation). A CT scan or MRI would be unlikely to see a rip unless it was quite large. These things are usually managed based upon the doctor's examination.

there are usually not many internal sutures used with mini-abdominoplasties -- only your surgeon would know how many were used and where they were placed. If you did tear a suture, it may not need repaired if the contour is nice after all of the swelling has resolved. If it needs fixed, it would be a similar operation to the one you just had. Swelling is certainly still expected 4 weeks out and I wouldn't make any plans to revise anything for at least 2 more months. Good luck!