Typically, What Body Part is the Most Painful After Tummy Tuck?

Hello missbeleve, thank you for your question regarding the most painful body part after a tummy tuck.

After a tummy tuck, the most significant discomfort typically comes from the muscle plication. This procedure involves suturing the rectus abdominis muscles (the "six-pack" muscles) together to create a tighter and flatter abdominal wall. The pain associated with muscle plication is usually described as a deep, aching sensation and can be particularly intense when engaging the abdominal muscles, such as when getting out of bed, coughing, or laughing.

The incision line along the bikini area can also be tender and sore as it heals, but this pain is generally less intense than the discomfort from the muscle plication. The incision pain is usually a sharp or burning sensation, especially during the initial days following surgery.

To manage the discomfort, your surgeon will provide you with pain medications. It's crucial to take these as directed to keep the pain under control. Avoiding strenuous activities and following your surgeon's postoperative care instructions will also help minimize pain and support the healing process.

If you have any concerns about your pain levels or experience severe or persistent pain, it’s important to contact your surgeon for further evaluation and guidance.

Good luck with your recovery. I hope I’ve answered your question regarding the most painful areas after a tummy tuck.

Sincerely,

J. Timothy Katzen, MD, FASMBS, FICS

In many instances, patients report the most painful part of the tummy tuck to be the muscle repair; spasms of the muscle can also periodically cause pain. The use of muscle relaxants and a pain pump delivering anesthetic in the muscle sheath have greatly reduced this pain. The second most sensitive area tends to be the liposuctioned lower back, hips and flanks. Although not exquisitely painful, it can be sore and achy for up to 3 months.

 There is some incisional pain which is along your bikini line but most of the pain is up and down along the midline where the muscles are tightened back together.

The area that usually bothers patients the most after surgery is the tightening of the abdominal musculature in the midline.

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective technique to contour the abdomen. Patients undergoing this procedure should understand that there is a significant healing process. Some of our patients describe the area of most discomfort where the muscles were tightened. However other patients state that the abdominal incision has more discomfort until the abdominal tissue has listened and they could stand upright. Regardless, our patients receive two separate compression garments to help manage the swelling and provide support to minimize the discomfort. Our patients are able to control the pain with Tylenol and a pain control pill like Darvocet or Vicodin.

To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below: