Is tummy tuck very much painful? How many days major pain will be there after post op? Considering to do it in Pune (Photo)

Hello and thank you for your question.

Based on your photos, you appear to be a great candidate for a tummy tuck with liposuction. This can be done through a low and short incision, all completely below the bikini line. The belly button can be designed to look natural with minimal scarring on the exterior. Your muscles can also be plicated resulting in a flatter and firmer abdominal contour and profile.

Pain and discomfort are usually the most pronounced during the first week, and continue to subside as each week passes by. I typically recommend for patients to take 2 weeks off for recovery.

I would recommend to obtain an in person consultation with a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon to further discuss your options and expectations.

I hope this helps.
Best, Dr. Karanetz

Dr. Irena Karanetz
Fellowship-Trained
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Thank you for your question. I can't comment on pain medications administered in India, and in any case the exact pain regimen would likely vary depending on the surgeon. In my own practice I use a combination of a muscle block with a long-acting local anesthetic, plus different medications so each patient can customize their treatment. The most common combination is acetaminophen, celecoxib, and hydromorphone, but other medications can be helpful such as muscle relaxants or drugs that specifically target pain due to nerve irritation. As for your question about pain after tummy tuck surgery, this is unique to each patient. Some find the pain to be very minimal and hardly use any medications, and others will be more sore for the first week or so. The surgeon(s) you are consulting will be able to discuss their pain control regimen and what you should expect after surgery.

hello,
Thank you for your question. You should expect to have post op pain for the first week following surgery. This can be greatly managed with the use of an Exparel block (given at the time of surgery) which will numb the area for up to 3 days. In my practice, we also prescribe narcotics for pain . Since they both work in different ways, you can do both at the same time. Lastly, most patients will take a short course of steroids which will help with the swelling, and likewise reduce pain.

Once you have your drains removed and take a shower at one week, you should feel almost like yourself! However, patients do continue to take motrin for the remaining 2-3 weeks for any discomfort they still have. With time, it all heals, and your pain should go away completely.

cheers,
Ricardo L Rodriguez MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
Baltimore, Maryland