This is VERY Normal to have the mons become swollen, bruised and enlarged following abdominal surgery.  Everything drains downward and the catch all is the mons. This area will often become enlarged and discolored and stay that way for quite some time.  You also can have a vessel in that area bleed a fair amount with the placement of the drains.  This is very common and will fully resolve.  If you had liposuction of this area, it is more likely to have manifest swelling.  Hardness would reflect either clotted blood or scar tissue inseting following the liposuction.  In all cases, it will resolve.

Pain control following any procedure is critical. I recommend the patient’s take Ibuprophen 800 mg every 6 hours and add to this 1-2 Vicoden or equivalent narcotic as needed. The Ibuprophen will reduce the need for the narcotic by up to 50%.  It is important to be up and moving and control the pain well. The pain will resolve on it’s own.

You can start massage to the area of hardness in 2.5- 3 weeks following surgery/ or drain removal (which ever is last) if your doctor agrees with that.

Good luck!

Typically as the nerves grow back into a surgical site there will be increased tenderness, shock like sensation and possibly itching. This is very normal.  Scar maturation takes a full year, after which the color becomes pale, scar thins and softens.  For the tummy tuck, the dissection is very extensive so the regrowth of the nerves can take a long time.  To desensitize the nerves you can massage and apply silicone sheets.  I find the topical sheets of silicone by Newgel and similar companies may provide more padding and than one would get from the liquid silicone alternatives which are applied from a tube like an ointment.  You can hold the silicone sheet on with a tegaderm and leave it in place for several weeks at a time.  If the scar is thickening and extending beyond the incision, you may be developing a hypertrophic or keloid scar which will need a more aggressive treatment with the use of a Dermajet to infuse the scar with steroid solution. This will allow the scar to soften, flatten and alleviate the symptoms of discomfort.   It may take several courses of Dermajet infusion in order to fully treat a symptomatic keloid.