Pain Management Following Mommy Makeover Surgery

The mommy makeover is one of the largest procedures performed in cosmetic surgery. This procedure has several components. These include breast augmentation, breast lift, abdominoplasty, and liposuction of the hips and thighs. The exact procedure performed in any particular case is dependent upon the specific needs of the individual patient.

Pain tolerance varies from patient to patient and is dependent upon a variety of factors. The vast majority of patients who have mommy makeover surgery describe their pain

as moderate. This pain is especially noticeable in the first 24 hours following surgery, but improves rapidly over the next week.

Patients are given narcotic pain relievers in the immediate postoperative period and switched to Tylenol 5 to 7 days postoperatively. It’s not unusual for patients to have pain, which is related to muscle spasm following this procedure. When this situation arises, muscle relaxants are extremely helpful as well.

If you’re concerned about postoperative pain management, it’s important to discuss this issue with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to develop a plan that addresses your concerns. 

What are ‘Dog Ears’?

Dog ears are abnormal bulges of tissue that typically occur along the ends of surgical incisions. This problem occurs for a variety of reasons, including discrepancies in length of the opposing wound borders and wound closures around curved contours. 

Dog ears can occasionally be seen following abdominal wall panniculectomy. When this occurs, secondary surgery may be necessary. In most cases, this involves a simple excision of the dog ear under local anesthesia. In other cases where the dog ear is large and extends posteriorly towards the back, correction may require extension of the incisions in a posterior direction. In some cases, where an abnormal roll of tissue is present the incision may extend to the midline of the back. 

Although every effort is made to avoid dog ears during the primary surgical procedure, this complication is occasionally unavoidable. When this situation arises it’s important to discuss your options with your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon should be able to formulate a treatment plan that addresses your concerns. 

Running After Breast Implants?

Recovery varies from patient-to-patient following breast augmentation surgery. We generally recommend that patients avoid strenuous activities including running for at least six weeks following surgery. 
 

 

Running in the immediate postoperative period has the potential to cause the breasts to bottom out. The constant bouncing of the implants within a freshly formed breast pocket can cause the pocket to expand inferiorly. Capsule formation acts to stabilize the implant pocket but may take weeks to occur. In some cases, two weeks may be adequate, while longer periods may be necessary in other cases.

Physics suggests that larger implants would be more likely to stretch the pocket and skin, while compressive support bras would minimize the phenomena. 

If you’re considering an early return to running, it’s important that you discuss the issue with your plastic surgeon before proceeding. Your surgeon will have important information regarding your situation and when it’s safe to resume this activity.