On Average, How Long Can I Expect Pain from Tummy Tuck to Last?

Hello newtummy2soon,

Thank you for reaching out, and I'm sorry to hear that you're experiencing significant pain following your tummy tuck procedure.

Pain levels and recovery experiences can vary greatly from person to person, but on average, patients typically experience the most intense discomfort in the first week after surgery. The pain associated with muscle repair during a tummy tuck can indeed be quite intense, especially during activities like coughing or moving suddenly.

In most cases, the intensity of the pain gradually subsides over the course of 7 to 10 days as your body begins to heal. It's essential to follow your surgeon's post-operative instructions carefully, including taking prescribed pain medications as directed and avoiding activities that could strain the abdominal muscles.

If you find that your pain is not improving or if you have concerns about your recovery, I recommend reaching out to your plastic surgeon for guidance. They can assess your situation and provide personalized advice to help manage your discomfort and ensure a smooth recovery process.

Please don't hesitate to seek medical attention if you experience severe or persistent pain, as this could be a sign of complications that require prompt attention.

Wishing you a speedy and comfortable recovery.

Sincerely, Dr. Katzen

IF pain control is any indication, it appears that most patients require more extensive medications during the first 7-10 days after which they taper their use until about 3 weeks.

Tummy tuck surgery is one of the most rewarding surgeries performed in plastic surgery and has one of the highest patient satisfactions. However, it is definitely the most painful as well! The tightening of the muscle produces significant pain and may persist until the muscles are fully healed. This can be as long as three months or more and varies from patient to patient. It generally is worst for the first two weeks and then gets progressively better with time. I always use a pain pump for my tummy tuck patients which slowly drips pain medicine into the wound for three days. I also recommend the use of muscle relaxants like Flexeril post operatively.

Thanks to a new pain medication, Exparel, the pain from a tummy tuck is less and more controlled.  Exparel is placed at the time of surgery and allows for 3-4 days of pain relief without the need for a pain pump or narcotic pain pills.

Most of the discomfort from a tummy tuck is from the abdominal muscle plication.  This usually improves by about 10 days to two weeks.

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective technique to contour the abdomen. Patients who undergo this procedure should understand that there is a significant recovery process. Patients that undergo a tummy tuck require 10 to 14 days to recover before returning to work with the compression garments. Our patients tell us that the pain after tummy tuck is nothing like childbirth or a C-section. They also note that the pain can be controlled with Tylenol and a moderate pain control pill like Darvocet or Vicodin. We asked our patients limited lifting weights above 5 pounds for 4 to 6 weeks at which time they can return to the gym and exercise.

To learn more about tummy tucks, see photos, and help you decide which one is best for you, please visit us at the link below:
 

The muscle tightening is the cause of 90% of the discomfort from a tummy tuck. I give my patients Valium to relax their muscles along with narcotic pain medications. Those with a high pain tolerance turn the corner after 4 days, are usually off all medications by 10 days and feel about 85% recovered at one month. It takes close to 3 months to feel totally recovered.