How Long After Tummy Tuck Does Pain and Soreness Usually Last?

This is not at all uncommon.
When looking at your belly, you see the incision and everbody expects the pain to be down low. Quite the opposite is true due to several factors.
The lower abdomen is actually numb due to the surgical "lifting" of the tissues. However, the nerves of the upper abodmen are relatively more intact making the upper abdomen feel more painful than the lower. The pain in the upper abdomen is usually due to the uppermost repair of the rectus muscles. This will worsen with spasms and may take up to 3 months to ease but is generally worse during the first 10 days.
As the nerves recover, they progress from the outside to the inside (hips toward the belly button) and from the top to the bottom. Sometimes the area immediately below the belly button never recovers completely but that is seldom a problem.
Sensations of " pins and needles" are very common dring the recovery period and tend to be worse if liposuction was performed. This can be most active from 10 days to 3 weeks after surgery. Long term some people report phantom sensations/pain from transposition of the tissues from the upper to lower abdomen. For example you may think your rib cage is itching but you need to scratch your groin area to relieve it.

At 2 week safer tummy tuck you are so early after surgery that it is very common to still have pain.  Some pain will be present for months after surgery, although it will be mostly resolved by 4 weeks.

Thank you for your question. Congratulations on your procedure. Pain and soreness after abdominoplasty is quite common. However, if your pain persists or worsens, I would advise you to follow up with your surgeon. Hope this information helps. 

Hi MissBeleve, Thank you for your questions about pain and soreness after a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty.  Pain after a tummy tuck is normal.  This is due to the rectus abdominis muscles being tightened with permanent suture.  The tummy tuck pain is also due to the abdominal skin being removed and sutured back together to achieve a flat tummy.  The reason you are in pain at the top of your belly just below your chest is that the rectus abdominis muscles is sewn together from just underneath the sternum (xiphoid) to the top of the pubic bone. The pain you are experiencing is normal and is in a normal location.  This pain usually subsides 3 to 4 weeks after a tummy tuck. If you are in extreme pain,  please consult with your plastic surgeon.  I hope that I have answered your questions regarding pain and soreness in the upper abdomen after a tummy tuck.  If you have any more questions regarding the tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, please contact my office.  Sincerely, Dr. Katzen. 

 It is normal to feel uncomfortable pain that you are
experiencing. You had a major procedure. 
Continue to take your pain medication and do not lift heavy items or
bend over to pick up items.  Once the pain
subsides you can move to an over the counter pain medication to avoid suffering
from constipation.  In the meant time,
also use fiber supplements or a stool softener from your surgeon.  You will soon begin to feel better. Congratulations
and best of luck!

Fortunately tummy tuck surgery has come a long way in the pain department. There a re many things that can be done to reduce the level of pain during recovery. i am a strong believer that tumescent solution that is injected prior to the incision helps a lot. I also inject long acting numbing medicine along the incision before making the incision. The theory is that if your body does't experience the pain (even though you are asleep under anesthesia) it won't hurt so bad when you wake up. In addition there is a relatively new long acting numbing medicine called Exparel. This is injected at the time of surgery. It works extremely well and allows patients to move about much easier, taking far less pain meds. Intravenous ibuprofen also helps. With all of these changes most patients report that their pain level is a 3-5 out of 10 (ten being the worst pain). Check with your surgeon about these treatments an go for it.

Pain varies per person and medication to control #discomfort will be provided. Healing will continue for 2-3 months for the early period. This includes some swelling, bruising, malposition, color differences. Sensation in the breasts may also be abnormal and scars will be evolve. Tingling, burning or shooting pains in the breasts will disappear with time and should not alarm you. It is simply a result of the regeneration of your sensory nerves. If these sensations cause pain, repeated, local self-massage per your surgeon's permission may help.Healing after a  #tummytuck will require time. Some patients are out of bed and walking the night of surgery and every hour while awake. I allow my patients to return to work at one to two weeks with 14 days preferred.  However, no lifting or straining.  At three weeks, increased level of activity and full with no restrictions, at 6 weeks.As I advise my patients, if your work keeps you sedentary, you may return whenever you feel up to it. If your work is strenuous, wait until your work activity does not cause any superficial pain. Some employers will modify a person’s job duties so they can back sooner, but without physical activity. Our office can provide our patients with a note stating they are not to engage in strenuous activity for a specified period of time. The note will not disclose what procedure they have underwent. Therefore, you may have to request a similar note from your surgeon if you are not independently employed. I recommend avoiding heavy lifting and strenuous #activity for six weeks following your surgery. With that said, it may help you plan your return to work accordingly.As for heavy lifting and other #strenuous #activities, it should be avoided for until you have clearance from your surgeon. You may, however, do normal activities at any time if they cause no pain or #discomfort. Let your body tell you what you can or cannot do. Aerobic exercise will raise your blood pressure, which could cause late bleeding and harm your result. Once you begin exercising again, start gently and let your body tell you what it can tolerate. Don’t rush!!  If you have concerns about your healing, or pain that you question to be unusual, it is important to call your plastic surgeon to discuss these further asked to be examined.

Pain and soreness to the upper abdomen is normal.  This is most likely due to the upper abdominal muscle tightening. It is also common to feel like you can not straighten up for about two weeks after surgery due to the signficant tightness across the abdomen.  As a general guide the pain and soreness should resolve within the first 4-6 weeks however the tightness across the abdomen may take several months to settle.

This varies widely from patient to patient and the extent of your procedure. I use Exparel a long acting local anesthetic that I inject while you are under anesthesia and lasts for up to 3 days (the most uncomfortable period) so that the discomfort is tolerated well.Abdominoplasty involves a recovery period of 10 to 14 days longer than most plastic surgical procedures. Initial discomfort and decreased mobility is typical. You will be encouraged to move and walk regularly starting the day of surgery. Wearing your TED stockings at all times, except while washing, to prevent venous clots (deep vein thrombosis) is mandatory.Light activity is comfortable in 10-20 days. No sports or heavy lifting for 6 weeks or more – please discuss with your doctor for specific questions.#tummytuck#tt#tummytuckrecovery#ttrecovery#abdominoplasty

Hello! Thank you for your question! Numbness after any surgical
procedure is expected for several weeks to months following. As the
nerves to the area are traumatized and will then experience a temporary
neuropraxia, a transient loss of nerve conduction. This usually
resolves over the next 6-12 weeks, but depending on the procedure
performed, sometimes much longer. Typically this should resolve by 1
year. As it goes past this date, the likelihood of the sensation
returning is small. However, it can take up to 2 years. If no return
from there, it is unlikely to return. It should be discussed that
persistent sensory changes may develop following any surgical
procedure.  Postoperative pain may last for several weeks following the procedure alone.The usual signs of the nerves regenerating and neuropraxia
resolving is itching, followed by a burning sensation and then
occasional sharp, shock-like pains. These will be normal to experience,
and actually a promising sign. Usually, normal sensation returns, but
is is also possible to have decreased sensation or even increased
sensation to the areas affected. Re-educating nerves postoperatively is
often helpful and will allow proper instruction for the affected
sensory nerves - methods include using different textures to the
affected areas when showering, bathing, applying lotion, etc. If
bothersome, there are some medications that may be helpful, including
Neurontin for pain for hypersensitivity. You can try various textures
such as washcloths, loofahs, cotton sheets, etc. Massaging the areas is
also beneficial for the incision to make the finest scar possible. The
last place to regain the sensation will be directly adjacent to the
incision/scar as the nerves will make its way from the periphery to this
location. If continual pain arises, evaluation is warranted. After
ruling out other causes, one rare explanation may be that a neuroma has
developed and may require surgical excision. This is very unlikely
unless a large sensory nerve has been transected inadvertently during
the procedure. Hope that this helps! Best wishes!

                  It’s
not unusual for patients to experience pain following tummy tuck surgery.  This pain is usually related to
elevation of skin flaps and tightening of the abdominal muscles.  In many cases the pain is more severe
in the upper abdomen where the rib cage provides resistance against the pull of
the tightened abdominal muscles. 
In addition, the sensory nerves in this location haven’t been divided
and are therefore functional. 

                  The
pain associated with abdominoplasty is severe in the first 24-48 hours
following surgery, but rapidly diminishes with time.  We typically use a synthetic codeine derivative called
hydrocodone, which has a decreased incidence of nausea compared to
Codeine.  We replace narcotic pain
relievers with double strength Tylenol as soon as possible following surgery to
avoid the potential for drug problems.

                   Pain
tolerance varies from patient to patient following abdominoplasty.  It’s important to consult your plastic
surgeon if your continuing to have severe pain two weeks after surgery.