AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2300 plastic surgery questions for Allexperts. His expertise is in cosmetic plastic surgery including breast surgery (breast enlargement with implants, breast reduction, breast lifts), liposuction, eyelid surgery, tummy tucks, facelifts etc.
Dr. Engler has been listed as one New York`s Top Doctors, and as "One of the World's Most Famous Aesthetic Surgeons" (Aesthetic Surgery, TASCHEN Books, Angelika Taschen, Editor). He is the author of 4 books, including "BodySculpture" (a best-selling plastic surgery book on breast surgery, liposuction and tummy tucks), "EyeScapes" (Plastic Surgery of the Eyelids), "Restylane," and "The Slim Book of Liposuction."
Dr. Engler has two US Patents for surgical instruments that he's designed, and has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Tyra Banks Show, The Ricki Lake Show (four times), and the Dr. Keith Ablow Show. Videos of his appearances are available on YouTube (SEARCH FOR "DR. ENGLER"). His website is www.bodysculpture.com.
Experience Dr. Alan Engler is a board-certified plastic surgeon in New York and the author of BodySculpture - Plastic Surgery of the Body for Men and Women (ISBN 0966382749) one of the top-selling plastic surgery books on amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com, etc.
Organizations belong to ASAPS (American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery); ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons); ACS (American College of Surgeons); Clinical Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York
Question Hi, I am 9 wks 5 d PO full abdominoplasty. I am experiencing a very sharp burning sensation under my incision area, just above my pubic bone (actually, kind of on it).
Here's the situation:
After regular visits to my PS, he told me it would be OK to start working out (at 5-6 weeks PO), so I started on the elliptical. Prior to my surgery, my regular exercise routine was 6 days/week, 1-2 hours/day. At 6-7 weeks PO I began doing some light weights (sitting position only) and then worked my way back to spin class (not too heavy). At 7-8 weeks PO I worked out for 6 days (3 spin classes and 3 weight training days b/c I felt really good). Last week, I started to feel a very strong burning sensation on my lower right side (not a muscle pull or groin pull either), when I have my right foot planted and pivot to the left, while I'm bending over, or if I press on it. I'm wondering if I may have done too much too soon and stretched or tore any internal stitches causing this intense burning sensation. It feels like alcohol being poured onto an open wound...right about where my drain was and just above my pubic bone and below my incision. There is no redness, but there is slight bruising (purple) in that small area. Also, there is more swelling on the right side of my stomach. I will be seeing my PS in 2 days, but would like your opinion first...
Thank you!
Answer Hi Debbie,
There's more about TT's at my site, www.bodysculpture.com.
There is, of course, no way for me to know for sure, but it's very common to have all sorts of pains such as these during the recovery from surgery. And a TT is, after all, a relatively large procedure, in terms of where the incision is and how long, lifting up skin and fat (nothing personal, of course...) and repositioning all of that.
I suspect that you did, in fact, overdo it a bit, and that everything will settle down and be fine on its own. However, it's good that you're seeing your PS soon to confirm that.
