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How Long Did Your Tummy tuck surgery swelling last?

Posted 24 Mar 2010


View 35 doctor answers to How Long Does Tummy Tuck Surgery Swelling Last?

Comments (73)

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Texas girl weight gain 15 Jan 2009
one month ago I had an tummy tuck, I understand the discomfort and all. my problem is that my tummy looks bigger compared to the surgery,tighes, and bottom. I had a live in Nurse and her Hubby Doctor lives w/ me that first week and began to feed me well. I cut back because I notice the weight change. but the thing is I weighe less after the surgey, but cannot fit the clothes prior to my surgery. I am able to fit all of my old clothes which was to big prior to the wight I loss. I understand that Iam swollen still, but what happen to my thighes? LOL
beaches2961 15 Jan 2009
I would say that it is just from the trauma of the surgery. I am still swollen at 9 wks post op but it is going down slowly. Most of my swelling is from the belly button down. I think it will take me about another 2-3 months for the majority of the swelling to go down. I'm using the scarring sheets and I think that helps to reduce the swelling some but not as fast as I would like it to. I probably haven't answered your question but I, too, am still swollen. Patience is a virtue when it comes to this surgery!!!
cavanagh 14 Mar 2009
im haveing pain in my stomach after my tummy tuck last friday this now 6 days ago my tummy is badly swollen and very sore will this go away also when i went to change my dressings there was an awaful smell but the stiches look ok my belly button was quite red im really scared
post tucker (unregistered guest) 16 Mar 2009
I had a tummy tuck one month ago today. I am still swollen and my belly button is still red. I still have pain... not as bad but it is there. The smell is gone, but only because my stitches are out and the tapes are all off. All the drainage has stopped. You should talk to your doctor about all of this just to be on the safe side... good luck...everyday you will feel better and better...
LoriD 20 Mar 2009
Talk to your doctor immediately if you have an awful smell. I had a tummy tuck six months ago and I am just now feeling back to myself. I think I wasn't able to stand straight for at least six weeks and still had pain. Regarding post op, I never experienced any smells, excessive bleeding or draining. I saw my doctor weekly but also, my doctor sent me home the same day I had the procedure. I was lucky though, I had a nurse at home who cared for me and kept me pretty well sedated for the first week. I also experienced a lot of swelling. I don't I was able to button a pair of pants for nearly 8 weeks and the swelling has just now really gone away. It was most definitely the hardest thing I ever went through. It was enormously painful and if I had known what it was going to be like, I don't know if I would have had it done. However, all the pain is gone and I have to admit, I love the flat tummy I see in the mirror every morning. Again, talk to your doctor. I even made mine come in on the weekend to see me because I was hurting excessively. One more thing, be careful on your movement. I inadvertantly popped a stitch which has now caused an umbilical hernia. I thought I had it repaired but the bulge is still there, not as bad, but still there. It is now assumed that I also popped an inner stitch. So the leason is don't do too much. Just lay around for at least 6 weeks. Let every one wait on you.
brendalys 6 May 2009

I had my tummy tuck 3 weeks ago today and I feel great!! Dr. did and incredible job, I would say the first 48 hours were hard but by the day 4 I was going out to eat and movies with my friends, the doctor told me every one is different and age plays a big role the younger you are your body heals much quicker, I'm 30 years old mother of 3 small children and I don't regret at all, if I had to do it again tommorow I would, by the way on the 3rd day I was only taking tynelol extra strengh, I suggest go to ur doctor and fin out what's going on asap!!!

temeculamommy 27 Jun 2009
how did you cope with kids? Hubby is in Iraq and MIL is staying as long as I need help. When can I hold my baby (11 months) and take care of the house? Very concerned! Doing Mommy makeover with BA and lift with lipo of flanks. I'm very fit, 34 and very healthy.
cavanagh 22 Mar 2009
thanks that helped but its not just swelling its so hard did u have that as well
LoriD 23 Mar 2009
Yes, my whole torso was hard, uncomfortable, painful and unable to bend at the waist. I was told that was the swelling. In fact, I still experience it from time to time, especially on my love handle area where they lipo'd. My doctor did tell me to expect swelling for upto six months to one year. What I did notice is that as time progressed, the size of the area that was hard was getting smaller. It seemed like a shrinking circle so finally it was just my belly button area that was swollen. I went back to work at seven weeks but was still having a lot of discomfort in the way of swelling; however, I was able to finally get into pants but didn't wear because of the incision area. It seemed as the work day progressed the more swollen I became. I also have no feeling on my stomach and have been told that I may never regain feeling in the area. Tummy tucks are hard but it will get better.
velas3 30 Apr 2009
Wow....I am reading these posts and I feel extremely lucky. I am 2 weeks post op and I have been back to work for a week. I do have a desk job though. But I have felt great since 5 days post. I went home the same day...three hours from where I had the procedure. I am still a bit swollen from the navel down, but I am able to wear my pre-op clothes with the exception of buttoning one pair of my jeans. I strongly encourage walking and pushing fluids to help with your swelling. The best advice is to just keep in contact with your doctor, and follow his orders and I think it will all be fine.
LoriD 30 Apr 2009
Back to work after being off a work for one week? Did you have a full tuck?
NurseN 30 May 2009
I had a full tummy tuck with lipo to abdomen, buttocks,thighs, with breast lift and was out of bed the same night. I spent one night in the hospital. I was able to get out of bed myself by the 3rd day. I am now day 9 and off narcotics and able to drive. Expect to go back to work in one week. Have some swelling below belly button which i wear tight girdle to reduce. I have been told walking is ok but my back gets really sore when I'm up for long period of times. I had 2 drains for 8 days. I think that helped decrease swelling. Also I do not eat salt as this increases risk of edema. Hope my input is helpful to others.
missdaisy 3 Dec 2009
Thank you for your input. I am 9 days post op w FTT & lipo to abdomen and although I can already see that I will be happy with the results; I can only stand and walk for short periods without bad lower back pains. I know that I should walk with light bend but I can't straighten up right now. My doctor removed my drains day 7 post-op. My abdomen is very hard and swollen, I think from the lipo. I wear my binder at all times...it happens to be more comfortable wearing it than not. My doctor is very pleased with my healing, my belly button, and the look of my scar. It is well placed and not very thick; at least, at this time. My biggest concern is when can I expect to have more mobility without so much discomfort in my lower back and can stand for longer periods of time. When I'm positioned properly in my recliner, there is no pain. Maybe I should be more patient but after reading so many reports of people doing so well so quickly, I want to make sure that I'm not doing anything wrong.
cavanagh 24 Mar 2009
LoriD Thank you so much for all you have said youve really helped me tonight im just back from the hospital tonight he had a look at my stomach and he could see for himself how hard and swollen i was he said it was a hematoma its conjealed blood under the skin some people after an operation can disperss the blood through there system i havent so my stomach is hard he used 4 large 2inch thick syringes tonight to draw out the blood he said i will have to keep comeing back to get it all out it will just take time there happy with my stiches all nice and clean very tidy looking thank god .
LoriD 24 Mar 2009
Ouch! That sounds incredibly painful. I am glad to hear that you are ok and you'll only keep getting better as the weeks progress. Remember to take it easy and don't expect too much so soon. It will take time for your body to recover and for you to feel like your old self. You had major surgery.
cavanagh 24 Mar 2009
Lori if its not to cheeky what age were you when you got it done i am 56 but folk say i look in my late thirtys i go to gym ad try to stay young i dont feel as if can lie down dont want to feel as if i cant do anything for myself if you no what i mean is it really major surgery thanks for everything you have really helped me
LoriD 26 Mar 2009
I got mine at my 39th birthday...this past September...it was a 40th birthday gift to myself. I too try to keep myself in shape and love to hear my teenage kids' friends call me a "cougar". But, even as good as shape as I was in at time of the surgery, it still took me a long time before I could do anything. I got a little depressed and needed help out of bed and in bed for weeks. I think it was probably around my 4 month mark that I no longer made noise when I got up from sitting or felt that pulling on my stomach as if the skin was stretching all over again. I still have minimal swelling six months later but I know in time that will go away...and yes, a tummy tuck is major surgery. I was shocked to see that my doctor sent me home the same day of the surgery considering I have no recall of the first week and couldn't provide for my own care in any way. I still think I should have been in the hospital for that first week. Give yourself time before running back to the gym too. I started walking around the block at 5 weeks and gradually was up to 4 miles by the 7th week. Once I hit that mark, I was able to start my regular regimen-modified though. My mom came up with a real good motto, "In one month's time, you'll feel much better and be glad you had it done."
cavanagh 27 Mar 2009
Thanks once again Lori i went to the doctor on Monday he used 4 largs syringes and pulled fluid from my stomach it was red and thick i couldnt sit down or stand up right i could walk straight about 2 weeks later still on pain killers and belly still looks as if im pregnant but getting better i just cant see it comeing down
LoriD 27 Mar 2009
Didn't your doctor put two drains in you? I had to self syringe fluid from under the skin for about 2 to 3 weeks.
Tennis21 12 May 2009
I had a Tummy Tuck/Arm Lift/Rolls in Back Lift on 4/25/09, I can not really say at this time that I have swelling in my stomach, and it has only been approx. 17 days. My drains, 3 of the four, two from the sides of my upper back and one from my stomach stayed in two weeks, the first one from my stomach was removed after 7 days. I think leaving the drains in, no matter how uncomfortable or tiresome they are, is the reason that I have little or no swelling in the stomach. My arms and back have a little swelling, but everybody say my arms looks skinny. I think the drains are the key. My outcome was great, I love my results.
LoriD 13 May 2009
Arm lift? How do they do that? I was thinking of a thigh lift.
cavanagh 28 Mar 2009
Hi Lori i had drains in for about 4 days the third day my bed was soaken with blood the next day they were taken out i still think ive got a lot to come out he said if and when i think i need to come back then just do so but it can also cause infection last Monday qhen they did it fot me i felt good for about one day now its filled back up again im so fed up
LoriD 1 Apr 2009
Good God! That's horrible. I think I would be really upset with my doctor. I was changing the drains like every several hours and measuring the liquid. If it was over a certain amount, I was instructed to contact the office immediately. Yeah, that would not be any fun and I would have been especially freaked out to find my bed soaked with that yucky fluid. So is the fluid subsiding? I would think that it would be since if I remember correctly, my drains were removed after 2 to 3 weeks.
cavanagh 2 Apr 2009
Hi Lori went back again on Tuesday but he said it was looking ok and it will take time to settle down on its own my stomach is stil a bit swollen but not as bad and my waist is thick if you no what i mean ive to go back on June the 8th he said i should be a lot better by then and im not in as much pain so we shall have to see what happens its been great talking to you will let you no how i get on by the way i live in Scotland where are you
Sue Pullin (unregistered guest) 16 Apr 2009
Tummy tuck, was a great success, but when the nerves start coming back into the stomach area it burns and is uncomfortable, is this correct?

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