The following post from our forum is from a woman who had a tummy tuck with breast reduction surgery and now 9 weeks after the operation is experiencing severe pain in her stomach as well as symptoms of swelling and fatigue. She is wondering if this is common.

Date: 01/08/2011 Submitted by: SuzySwelling & Pain 9 Weeks After Tummy Tuck

I am 9 weeks post tummy tuck and breast reduction surgery. I’m looking and feeling much better but still have a lot of swelling and major internal muscle pain in the middle of my stomach. Is this normal? The muscles also become very fatigued after a normal day of activity. Please tell me if this is normal, how much longer it will last and has anyone else had the same issues.

RESPONSE

Date: 01/08/2011 Submitted by: Tanner

Suzy,

Tummy tuck swelling time varies with the type and extent of the surgery and the patients healing ability. Tummy tuck swelling in patients is gone in 3 – 5 weeks for some patients, other’s take several weeks or months. My surgeon told me that most of the swelling (80%) should be gone in 2 – 6 weeks and the remainder should be gone in 3 – 6 months. My swelling went away in 2 – 3 months but I had a thigh lift along with my tummy tuck.

Unless you still have an abnormal amount of swelling that hasn’t diminished over time, it sounds like you swelling is not uncommon.

Regarding the muscle fatigue after a normal day of activity, I did not have that problem but I have heard others that complained of fatigue and getting tired easily.

You also indicate that you have major internal muscle pain in the middle of your stomach. Having major pain in my stomach more than two months after my tummy tuck (especially with the swelling and fatigue you described) would prompt me to call my surgeon and make a follow-up appointment so he could check it out. He may tell you it is nothing to worry about and time will make it go away but it would be better to play it safe.

Good luck.

Tanner