Messed Up Tummy Tuck First Day?

I'm sorry to hear about the stressful experience after tummy tuck surgery.  These types of experiences are not uncommon, and patients tend to report these types of events frequently.  Although I cannot give you precise advice about your situation, the vast majority of patients end up doing very well despite “scary episodes”  similar to what you have described. For real reassurance follow-up with your plastic surgeon will be necessary.

Best wishes.

Many patients have a feeling of tearing something after a tummy tuck. It is difficult if not impossible to immobilize your belly, and there are many sensations that occur in the immediate post operative period. Fortunately, most of these resolve without any long term ramifications.

It is unlikely but not impossible to tear your muscles with that type of activity. I would suggest being evaluated by your plastic surgeon so that they can examine your belly. While they may not be able to definitively determine if everything is OK since you are only 2 days out, it would be good to be seen.

Best of luck and hang in there during the recovery.

Jeff Rockmore

I doubt seriously that you have torn apart a 3-layer repair of your rectus separation, but you may have challenged it.  This is when you need to call your plastic surgeon, tell him exactly what happened, and make an appointment to see him. 

The repair of the rectus diastasis is done with multiple sutures at multiple levels.  These are normally permanent sutures.  Jerky motions such as falling into bed can cause the sutures to pull on the fascial fibers into which they have been sewn.  As you noticed, this really hurts but rarely does a singular incident as you reported cause complete suture dislocation and subsequent muscle separation. 

I empathize with you.  I had a similar circumstance after having my rotator cuff repaired, felt a searing pain, but the sutures stayed intact and my shoulder works just fine now.  All plastic surgeons, and for that matter, all orthopedic surgeons put in extra sutures to defend against just this type of "not unusual" post surgical incidents.