AboutAlan M. Engler, MD, FACS Expertise Dr. Engler has answered over 2700 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.
Education/Credentials Dr. Engler graduated from Yale University (undergraduate) and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University (medical school). He did his residency training in General Surgery and, after that, Plastic Surgery, at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York. He is on the faculty of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.
Question Dr. Engler, I cannot go back and ask my surgeon and I'm not sure if my family doctor would be able to help. In the last two months I have begun to have a burning, searing sensation over my right side and hip. It definitely feels like it is in the muscle or fascia and I actually can't lie on that side any longer at night. Is it possible after so many years to have tearing or breakdown of that area due to stretching of the rectus? I have gained back my initial weight. If so, what will be the possible repair or will I just have deal with it? Thank you so much for your time. I'm not sure where to start.
Answer from Dr. Alan Engler
www.bodysculpture.com
Hi Lynne,
I'm obviously very sorry about the pain you're having.
While it could be from the tummy tuck, that really doesn't seem likely to me - it's been ten years, and pain going over the hip and side doesn't even sound like something that would be related to the rectus. Of course, anything is possible, but I wouldn't leave it with the assumption that that's all it is, and that there's nothing you can do about it.
In fact, it sounds more like a nerve issue related to a disk problem in your back; that sort of burning pain going over your hip and side is exactly the sort of pain that is described as radicular, or sciatica. So I would, actually, recommend that you start with your family doctor and possibly continue on to see a neurologist. A plastic surgeon may make sense, but I wouldn't necessarily jump right to that.
