I’m two years out from a tummy tuck, can an intense workout including abs undo the muscle repair?

Question

I had a tummy tuck 10/2018. 3 weeks ago I went hiking then did an intense workout that included my abdomen. Since then my stomach feels sore and doesn’t feel flat. Seem swollen above my belly button. Supposedly I had permanent sutures in place. Has something been damaged, or should swelling come down on its own? Should I be worried?

Matthew C. Camp, MD · Answer

Although it is rare, rectus diastasis repairs can fail. The abdominal muscles are powerful, and can rend the fascia and sutures if tested with vigor and repeated exertion. Abdominal extercise generally does not cause swelling above the umbilicus. Give it a couple weeks to settle down, then if it persists go see a plastic surgeon. Best wishes

Matthew C Camp

Matthew C Camp

Nelson Castillo, MD · Answer

Thank you for sharing your question.  After two years of an uncomplicated recovery you should be able to perform any workout without risk to muscle repair.

Kenneth Hughes, MD · Answer

Getting back into an intense workout after a long hiatus, you may have muscle tenderness that often shows up a day or two after your workout. Post-workout muscle pain is often accompanied by swelling that may register as a few extra pounds on the scale. If your swelling continues, consult with your PCP.

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear bella.,
every plastic surgeon has his own postoperative protocol which he recommends to his patients. You should be able to continue workout 2 years after a tummy tuck. I would suggest you to discuss this with your plastic surgeon.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Dann Leonard, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. If your tummy tuck was performed with permanent sutures, then theoretically it should be very strong and ready for exercise and stress at the 6-8 week post-operative period. With your surgery being several years ago, it is unlikely that you had a disruption of your abdominal wall repair. For right now, best treatment would be use of topical ice, use of Tylenol or NSAIDS for pain relief, and gentle external compression with a Spanx type garment for a short period of time. Once the swelling and pain resolve, you could resume your heavier activities and follow for symptoms. If it does appear that the pain and swelling tend to be more permanent, then best advice would be to obtain an ultrasound of the area, which would evaluate for possible changes to the abdominal wall and possible hernia formation. My prediction is that this is just a temporary injury.
Dann Leonard, MD

Felix Omar Márquez, MD · Answer

Hello, thanks for your question. After two years from Tummy Tuck, the healing is complete. Maybe, the cause of your swelling and pain is the workout itself. Consult a doctor in your area for a physical exam. Good luck!

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

At two years post op you are seeing your final results from your abominoplasty and any repairs are completely healed.  You may have caused an injury/strain to the muscle that should improve with rest.  If not, return to your surgeon for an evaluation.

Mary Lee Peters, MD (retired) · Answer

You most likely have sore muscles from working out and hiking, especially if you have not participated in these activities in a long time.  You are not likely swollen from the surgery as it has been over two years based on the surgery date you provided.  The wisest thing to do would be to return to your surgeon for an evaluation and seek guidance on how to safely return to full activity following your tummy tuck surgery.

Manuel Belen, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

Hello,
Thank you for sharing the information, it is a pleasure for me to answer your question.
It is difficult to evaluate the options without seeing photos,
Definitely the most appropriate is to start (liposculpture and BBL), you are a candidate perfect, for the procedure, with this you can eliminate all localized fat, you will get the best results and have a defined appearance according to your body. everything depends on your BMI, if it is within the normal range, above 35 it can generate risks.
It is advisable to consult with a certified plastic surgeon, for a good evaluation, to provide you with all the information you need to know about the appropriate recommendations, so that you can achieve the desired goals in your body.

I hope this answer will help you
My best wishes for you...

I’m two years out from a tummy tuck, can an intense workout including abs undo the muscle repair?

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