Sharp pain in upper abdomen after tummy tuck

Not wanting to bother your plastic surgeon with information about potential problems is the wrong pair of glasses.  If you don't give your plastic surgeon an opportunity to decide what symptoms are important and which are not will certainly bother him or her more.  In the process of repairing the separated abdominal muscles (rectus diastasis), most plastic surgeons suture the covering of the rectus muscles together.  This repair technique pulls tissue together which may have been separated for a long time.  To truly heal this repair, the muscles and fascia must stretch and scar tissue needs to cover the repair and sutures.  Until the scar tissue forms in the early post operative period, the repaired muscles may go into spasm during exercise, and this spasm may cause pain that will last for several days.Your question as to whether you should be concerned or not will depend on what your personal plastic surgeon tells you.

You should always feel comfortable enough with your plastic surgeon to discuss any post-operative changes or issues that are bothering you. Pain can be normal after a tummy tuck, particularly with exercise, but it still warrants an examination if you are uncomfortable. Avoid doing any strenuous activity or motions which exacerbate the pain until you have a chance to contact your physician.