Sneezing or Coughing After Tummy Tuck

Early out of tummy tuck surgery, the concern with your description would be, the potential for disruption of sutures that are holding the abdominal wall muscles together in the midline.  

In general, it would take a significant amount of pressure to “tear" the muscle repair after tummy tuck surgery. This event would likely be associated with significant discomfort. A change in your physical examination, such as increased swelling, bleeding, a new onset "bulge" would also be likely.

Generally speaking, abdominal wall muscle plication performed during tummy tuck surgery is quite secure; disruption is very unusual. You will be best off following up with your plastic surgeon who will be your best resource when it comes to accurate assessment, advice, and/or meaningful reassurance.

Best wishes.

A large percentage of the pressure that’s necessary for a
forceful cough or sneeze comes from contraction of the abdominal muscles.
Unfortunately, in the post-operative period coughing and sneezing are often associated
with significant pain.In the
post-operative period the abdominal muscle closure has regained most of its
pre-operative strength in about six weeks. Despite this coughing can still
result in significant pain because scarring, swelling and inflammation from the
healing process.It
would be unusual for coughing and sneezing to disrupt the abdominal muscle
closure six weeks following surgery. However, pain associated with coughing and
sneezing may last for three to six months following surgery.For
this reason, we generally recommend that patients splint their abdominal
muscles whenever they’re sneezing or coughing. When this approach is utilized,
pain is minimized and patients are more comfortable in the post-operative
period.