How painful is a full tummy tuck post op on a male ?

It all depends on each individual and how surgeons treat pain. In my practice we use Experel which is a long acting pain medication that lasts 72 hours and keeps patients very comfortable in the immediate post operative period which is the most painful and demands the highest amount of narcotic use

A tummy tuck with muscle plication is uncomfortable after surgery. There are methods to ease the pain during and after surgery. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian Los Angeles

Most patients tolerate tummy tuck quite well.  The pain is generally managed with oral narcotic pain medications.  Within the first week most of my patients are taking over-the-counter pain meds or nothing at all.  I recommend no heavy lifting for 6 weeks.

    If you do not have muscles tightened, the recovery is not as difficult.Kenneth Hughes, MDLos Angeles, CA

Congratulations on your weight loss!Most of the patients I see are concerned, and rightly so, with the amount of pain they will have to endure following a tummy tuck. You should plan for 3 weeks off of work, with no driving during that initial recovery period. Every body is unique, but generally by the 5th week my tummy tuck patients are resuming normal activities (link below).The good news is that the vast majority of abdominoplasty patients are happy with their final results. The even better news is that there is a device, called a pain pump, which will greatly reduce pain, reduce nausea, and result in a much quicker recovery.A pain pump is basically a ball (filled with medication) and long, thin tubes (which get inserted into the surgical wound space). As soon as you're in recovery, the ball pumps local anesthetic into the operated area which helps to constantly numb the pain.Nearly 90% of my breast augmentation, tummy tuck, and body lift patients opt for a pain pump as part of their sugeries. If it's not offered by the surgeon during consult, you can ask for it. My patients typically wear the pain pum for 4 or 5 days following surgery.Be sure to consult a board certified plastic surgeon who is experienced with surgery (specifically surgery following weight loss) to discuss your specifics, including pain management, and create a surgical plan that works for you.Best wishes in 2015!

Hi, thanks for your question. Post-operative pain is a serious matter for your doctor to manage. It is different for every patient. Some will experience no pain at all while others will have discomfort that your doctor must anticipate to give you the best post-op period. Make sure you have a board-certified plastic surgeon for the best experience and follow his or her instructions carefully. Good luck!

Full recovery is about 4-5 weeks. Pain is such an individual thing it is hard to predict anything. I have had patients with 2-3 days of pain and others ( rare) when the pain has lasted 7-10 days. You will do much better than you think you will.Good LuckStephen M. Davis, MD, FACSGreen Hills Plastic Surgery