How much pain will I experience after abdominoplasty?
Assuming the postoperative course is without complication; pain from tummy-tuck surgery peaks the day after surgery, and diminishes over the course of the following three to four days to be tolerable enough without the use of narcotics. Of course, pain tolerance varies significantly from patient to patient. The 72-96 hrs time frame is a “ballpark” figure, and a reflection of personal experience. Several other important factors are crucial to consider in breast enlargement surgery. Pre-incisional administration of local or dilute local (called tumescent) anesthetic greatly diminishes postoperative abdominoplasty pain. Sleeping with your back elevated and several pillows under your knees will reduce the tension on the abdominal incision and diminish your pain considerably. Apart from incisional pain, spasm of the tonic back muscles can cause a considerable amount of discomfort, muscle relaxants may be of benefit.
