How painful is a tummy tuck?

I've had a BA and would like a tummy tuck, but was really unprepared for how much my boobs would hurt after surgery! Would a tummy tuck be more or less painful than BA?

Answers from doctors (17)


Barry J. Kaplan, D.O.

Published on Jun 02, 2016

Generally less, but depends on whether it's a full tuck with muscle approximation and/or hernia repair compared to a mini tuck.

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Answered by Barry J. Kaplan, D.O.

Generally less, but depends on whether it's a full tuck with muscle approximation and/or hernia repair compared to a mini tuck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Kenneth L. Stein M.D. FACS

Published on Mar 18, 2016

Pain associated with a tummy tuck can be minimized if your surgeon is good with ensuring pain management. For instance, our doctor, Dr. Stein, uses a medication called Expiril in the incision area. It keeps the area numb for three days or so. The procedure is now very comfortable and tolerable.

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Answered by Kenneth L. Stein M.D. FACS

Pain associated with a tummy tuck can be minimized if your surgeon is good with ensuring pain management. For instance, our doctor, Dr. Stein, uses a medication called Expiril in the incision area. It keeps the area numb for three days or so. The procedure is now very comfortable and tolerable.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Robert J. Brueck MD, FACS

Published on Feb 18, 2016

Pain is subjective. If the muscles in your tummy are tightened or plicated, then you could have extra discomfort. With many of my patients, I use Exparel, which is a long-lasting local to lessen pain.

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Answered by Robert J. Brueck MD, FACS

Pain is subjective. If the muscles in your tummy are tightened or plicated, then you could have extra discomfort. With many of my patients, I use Exparel, which is a long-lasting local to lessen pain.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Jaime S. Schwartz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Published on Feb 15, 2016

Thank you for your question. The degree of discomfort following a tummy tuck will depend on if your rectus muscles need to be tightened. If so, the discomfort will likely be similar, as I presume your implants were placed under the muscle. The muscle spasms that you experience post-op are the main source of discomfort. In my practice, I utilize a multimodal approach to pain management. When using the muscle in surgery (i.e. placing implants under the pec muscles or tightening the abdominal muscles), I use a longer lasting local anesthetic injection, called Exparel, that gets injected into the muscle during surgery. This provides great pain relief for approximately 72 hours post-op. Additionally, I use Valium to treat the muscle spasms post-op for an adjunct pain relief to traditional pain medication.

I hope this information is helpful! Best wishes!

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Answered by Jaime S. Schwartz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Thank you for your question. The degree of discomfort following a tummy tuck will depend on if your rectus muscles need to be tightened. If so, the discomfort will likely be similar, as I presume your implants were placed under the muscle. The muscle spasms that you experience post-op are the main source of discomfort. In my practice, I utilize a multimodal approach to pain management. When using the muscle in surgery (i.e. placing implants under the pec muscles or tightening the abdominal muscles), I use a longer lasting local anesthetic injection, called Exparel, that gets injected into the muscle during surgery. This provides great pain relief for approximately 72 hours post-op. Additionally, I use Valium to treat the muscle spasms post-op for an adjunct pain relief to traditional pain medication.

I hope this information is helpful! Best wishes!

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Paul Wigoda M.D.

Published on Feb 14, 2016

It's unfortunate that you had so much pain with breast augmentation. Tummy tucks usually hurt a bit more than breast augmentation. However, if you had severe pain with your breast surgery, it's not necessarily true that a tummy tuck will be worse.

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Answered by Paul Wigoda M.D.

It's unfortunate that you had so much pain with breast augmentation. Tummy tucks usually hurt a bit more than breast augmentation. However, if you had severe pain with your breast surgery, it's not necessarily true that a tummy tuck will be worse.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Jed Horowitz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Published on Feb 09, 2016

I use a method called painless drainless. We inject Exparel into the muscle and skin before ending the case, which gives three days of relief.

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Answered by Jed Horowitz, M.D., F.A.C.S.

I use a method called painless drainless. We inject Exparel into the muscle and skin before ending the case, which gives three days of relief.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


David C. Yao MD, FACS

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Thank you for sharing. This depends on the patient, as each person feels things differently. The abdominoplasty can be a bit sore if full privation is done, but is controlled with medications and instructions from your doctor. If you have a mini procedure, the results may be less dramatic, but there is much less soreness. Best wishes

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Answered by David C. Yao MD, FACS

Thank you for sharing. This depends on the patient, as each person feels things differently. The abdominoplasty can be a bit sore if full privation is done, but is controlled with medications and instructions from your doctor. If you have a mini procedure, the results may be less dramatic, but there is much less soreness. Best wishes

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Joseph M. Perlman, M.D.

Published on Feb 09, 2016

If your breast augmentation was under the muscle, then it would be more painful than a tummy tuck, since the muscle gets partially cut to fit the implant.

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Answered by Joseph M. Perlman, M.D.

If your breast augmentation was under the muscle, then it would be more painful than a tummy tuck, since the muscle gets partially cut to fit the implant.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Larry Leverett, MD, FACS

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Exparel is an injectable postoperative analgesic that has been a game changer for plastic surgical patients who are undergoing breast augmentations and/or abdominoplasties. Usually, the first three days after breast or tummy tuck surgery are the most painful, and Exparel lasts about three days if injected correctly. For patients who cannot take routine pain meds, for patients on chronic pain meds of sedative, or for patients who just want to minimize pain, its revolutionary and I use it in the majority of cases. It is not inexpensive, but it is well worth the costs.

Good Luck.

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Answered by Larry Leverett, MD, FACS

Exparel is an injectable postoperative analgesic that has been a game changer for plastic surgical patients who are undergoing breast augmentations and/or abdominoplasties. Usually, the first three days after breast or tummy tuck surgery are the most painful, and Exparel lasts about three days if injected correctly. For patients who cannot take routine pain meds, for patients on chronic pain meds of sedative, or for patients who just want to minimize pain, its revolutionary and I use it in the majority of cases. It is not inexpensive, but it is well worth the costs.

Good Luck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


A breast augmentation should not hurt very much. My patients only need Advil, are out to dinner and showering the night of surgery, driving in two days, back to work in four or five, and in the gym at three weeks. They describe it as if there is a weight on their chest, or as if they had worked out hard. But many surgeons are not doing the operation at that level.

Tummy tucks hurt much more, typically more than even a C-section. So, if you had difficulty with the breast augmentation, you will have more difficulty with the tummy tuck. But the pain is easily controlled with medications.

Answered by Steven Teitelbaum, M.D.. F.A.C.S (View Profile)

A breast augmentation should not hurt very much. My patients only need Advil, are out to dinner and showering the night of surgery, driving in two days, back to work in four or five, and in the gym at three weeks. They describe it as if there is a weight on their chest, or as if they had worked out hard. But many surgeons are not doing the operation at that level.

Tummy tucks hurt much more, typically more than even a C-section. So, if you had difficulty with the breast augmentation, you will have more difficulty with the tummy tuck. But the pain is easily controlled with medications.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Gerald Minniti, M.D., F.A.C.S

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Unfortunately, a tummy tuck is a little more uncomfortable. During your consultation with a board-certified surgeon, be sure to discuss pain control.

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Answered by Gerald Minniti, M.D., F.A.C.S

Unfortunately, a tummy tuck is a little more uncomfortable. During your consultation with a board-certified surgeon, be sure to discuss pain control.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Robert A. Shumway, MD, FACS

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Thank you for your question. There are a couple of different types of tummy tucks (abdominoplasty). We offer an Avelar tummy tuck, which includes liposuction to the upper and lower abdomen. An incision is made down low and is hidden in the patient's bikini line. This is so the skin can then be pulled down to achieve a nice, flatter looking abdomen. Because muscle plication is not involved in this type of tummy tuck, the recovery is much quicker. Patients start to feel like themselves again after approximately 5 days. Sutures do stay in for a couple of weeks, however. We prescribe antibiotics that patients are on for two weeks, and a pain medication is provided when patients require one. Ice is very important to help keep the swelling down, which usually peaks at approximately 72 hours.

A full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), which does involve not only liposuction to the upper and lower abdomen, but muscle plication and the lower incision to pull the excess skin tight, does take approx. two weeks to recover. The sutures stay in a couple of weeks. This tummy tuck is a longer recovery than the Avelar, but has much more benefit due to the muscle plication. We, again, write prescriptions for an antibiotic and pain medication as needed for the recovery. Bigger procedure, bigger result! Best of Luck!

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Answered by Robert A. Shumway, MD, FACS

Thank you for your question. There are a couple of different types of tummy tucks (abdominoplasty). We offer an Avelar tummy tuck, which includes liposuction to the upper and lower abdomen. An incision is made down low and is hidden in the patient's bikini line. This is so the skin can then be pulled down to achieve a nice, flatter looking abdomen. Because muscle plication is not involved in this type of tummy tuck, the recovery is much quicker. Patients start to feel like themselves again after approximately 5 days. Sutures do stay in for a couple of weeks, however. We prescribe antibiotics that patients are on for two weeks, and a pain medication is provided when patients require one. Ice is very important to help keep the swelling down, which usually peaks at approximately 72 hours.

A full tummy tuck (abdominoplasty), which does involve not only liposuction to the upper and lower abdomen, but muscle plication and the lower incision to pull the excess skin tight, does take approx. two weeks to recover. The sutures stay in a couple of weeks. This tummy tuck is a longer recovery than the Avelar, but has much more benefit due to the muscle plication. We, again, write prescriptions for an antibiotic and pain medication as needed for the recovery. Bigger procedure, bigger result! Best of Luck!

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Body by Ravi

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Everyone's pain tolerance is a little bit different. However, your tummy tuck, which usually involves tightening the muscles of your tummy, may lead to more discomfort than your breast augmentation. Your recovery is two weeks. Best wishes!

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Answered by Body by Ravi

Everyone's pain tolerance is a little bit different. However, your tummy tuck, which usually involves tightening the muscles of your tummy, may lead to more discomfort than your breast augmentation. Your recovery is two weeks. Best wishes!

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Mark E. Mason, MD, FACS

Published on Feb 09, 2016

I am sorry that your pain level was so high with your breast augmentation surgery. An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is a much more invasive procedure and would be more painful than breast surgery. However, you should visit with your plastic surgeon to make sure that things are being done to keep your pain under control. You may want to ask if he or she uses a pain pump, which makes the experience much more tolerable. A pain pump is filled with a long lasting local anesthesia medication and removed after about 3-5 days. In addition, narcotic pain medication and muscle relaxants can help ease the discomfort during the first few weeks of recovery. I hope that this helps in your decision.

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Answered by Mark E. Mason, MD, FACS

I am sorry that your pain level was so high with your breast augmentation surgery. An abdominoplasty, or tummy tuck surgery, is a much more invasive procedure and would be more painful than breast surgery. However, you should visit with your plastic surgeon to make sure that things are being done to keep your pain under control. You may want to ask if he or she uses a pain pump, which makes the experience much more tolerable. A pain pump is filled with a long lasting local anesthesia medication and removed after about 3-5 days. In addition, narcotic pain medication and muscle relaxants can help ease the discomfort during the first few weeks of recovery. I hope that this helps in your decision.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor Tom Pousti, M.D.

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Thank you for your question. In general, yes, tummy tuck surgery is a larger surgery and more invasive. For this, more discomfort is generally associated with this surgery. That said, most of my tummy tuck patients would "do it again" without hesitations because they love the results. Make sure to visit with board-certified plastic surgeons for evaluation. Best wishes.

Answered by Tom Pousti, M.D. (View Profile)

Thank you for your question. In general, yes, tummy tuck surgery is a larger surgery and more invasive. For this, more discomfort is generally associated with this surgery. That said, most of my tummy tuck patients would "do it again" without hesitations because they love the results. Make sure to visit with board-certified plastic surgeons for evaluation. Best wishes.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


The Georgia Institute of Plastic Surgery

Published on Feb 09, 2016

Pain is a relative concept. The undisputed causes of increased pain are bigger dissection, blunt dissection, submuscular dissection, and larger implants. Other causes are swelling and tension from larger implants. Much of pain is managed by preoperative preparation with knowing what to expect, giving something to reduce the pain cycle before surgery starts, intraoperative local anesthesia, and marcaine for long-term pain relief. Surgical time and technique influences the amount of pain. Many augmentations do not take any postoperative pain medicine.

Tummy tucks, if requiring muscle tightening, do hurt. This can be reduced by the use of Exparel nerve blocks that numb the abdomen for up to 3 days postoperative. The sense of pain should be slightly more than an augmentation.

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Answered by The Georgia Institute of Plastic Surgery

Pain is a relative concept. The undisputed causes of increased pain are bigger dissection, blunt dissection, submuscular dissection, and larger implants. Other causes are swelling and tension from larger implants. Much of pain is managed by preoperative preparation with knowing what to expect, giving something to reduce the pain cycle before surgery starts, intraoperative local anesthesia, and marcaine for long-term pain relief. Surgical time and technique influences the amount of pain. Many augmentations do not take any postoperative pain medicine.

Tummy tucks, if requiring muscle tightening, do hurt. This can be reduced by the use of Exparel nerve blocks that numb the abdomen for up to 3 days postoperative. The sense of pain should be slightly more than an augmentation.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


Andrew Trussler MD, FACS

Published on Feb 09, 2016

In general, a tummy tuck has more recovery time than a breast augmentation. The principles of a smooth recovery from a breast augmentation are similar to those of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, including proper planning of the procedure, precise technique, use of direct local anesthesia, anti-inflammatories, post-op compression, and avoiding over-tightening the abdominal skin. These all help to limit the discomfort after a tummy tuck.

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Answered by Andrew Trussler MD, FACS

In general, a tummy tuck has more recovery time than a breast augmentation. The principles of a smooth recovery from a breast augmentation are similar to those of a tummy tuck or abdominoplasty, including proper planning of the procedure, precise technique, use of direct local anesthesia, anti-inflammatories, post-op compression, and avoiding over-tightening the abdominal skin. These all help to limit the discomfort after a tummy tuck.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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