Tummy Tuck/C Section Recovery Similar?

I have found that a C-Section is a good "barometer" for what to expect with a tummy tuck in terms of recovery and discomfort.  Most patients find it somewhat less uncomfortable as far as pain than a C-Section.  In a C-Section the abdominal muscles are often divided and there is more pain related to that.  A tummy tuck raises the tissues off of the fascia or "covering" of the muscles and also "tightens" the covering of the muscles. 

Thank you for the question. As you can imagine, every patient will have a different experience when it comes to discomfort (and overall healing process) after tummy tuck surgery. Generally, most patients will report that the recovery process is similar to recovering after C-section. Anecdotally, when I have asked patients to compare, all have reported that the tummy tuck recovery is less painful than C-section recovery. I hope this, and the attached link/video, helps.

Generally speaking a tummy tuck recovery is similar to a C-section recovery.  However, since a C-section incision goes much deeper than a tummy tuck incision, the C-section tends to hurt a bit more. A tummy tuck involves only muscle tightening, whereas a C-section incision goes through the muscle which is more painful. I recommend consulting with a board certified plastic surgeon for more detailed information.Best wishes, Dr.Bruno