upper abdominal swelling 5 months post op tummy tuck

By brina67 on 24 Mar 2011

I am 5 months post op and I have been experiencing upper abdominal swelling from time to time since 3 months post op. The swelling is a substantial bulge more so on the right side and it feels hard not soft and sore if I press it. I have not worked my abs in the gym, but I do run 3 miles 3 times a week and lift weights. I am due for my 6 month check-up in April and I am scared the doctor may have to go back in. I did have liposuction along with the Tummy tuck, maybe he missed a section. Is anyone experiencing similiar results?

Comments (8)

Farz 7 Jan 2012

Brina, when you say "it pushes back in", it sounds as though you possibly may have a hernia

brina67 9 Jan 2012

Since the last post in April, I have had liposuction revision again which has taken away the fat that was left and I have had a deteriorated kidney removed. But I continued to have this knot. My plastic surgeon asked me to cough and said to keep massaging it, and that it was scar tissue. That was in June (my last appointment with the surgeon). Since then the knot has gotten prominent and bulges. At the end of December, I went to a general surgeon and he ordered a CT scan. 17 Jan is my follow-up for the results of whether it is a hernia or scar tissue. I joke with my girlfriends that I paid all of this money to have a nice looking stomach and now I have scars from surgery.

Hoping all is well

Brina 67

Farz 15 Mar 2012

Hey Brina, just curious, is the bulge still there??

brina67 16 Mar 2012

Hi, the CT Scan came back as negative for a hernia. The bulge still comes and goes in the top half of my stomach. It could be my digestive system. I still have the lump which is going away, but now I have a new lump. Since I had liposuction revision (9 months ago) in the middle area where there were fat deposits left, the numbness is now wearing off around my midline section, to include belly button area in which I have a knot that hurts and is sore right below my belly button. I think it is scar tissue. I have a friend who had no problem what so ever with her tummy tuck. I guess each body is different.

Brina

brina67 29 Mar 2011

Thank you, I have read what the other doctors have to say, and the comments suggest an accumulation of fat. So I will address this issue during my 6 month follow up appointment with my doctor.

Brina67

3boys 1princess 31 Mar 2011

did you have this bulge directly after surgery. I have this. it is hard as a rock. the doc said to the nurses cause they asked and said it was due to deep suturing. I know I am still early,but I am going to ask again at my first pre-op on Monday. Good luck!!

brina67 1 Apr 2011

No I did not have the bulge directly after surgery, I was flat as a pancake, but I caught a cold around my 2nd month of recovery which caused me to cough a lot. I thought maybe I busted a suture. My bulging comes and goes and since I am approaching the 6 month mark, my stomach both top and bottom is sensitive to the touch ( I think everything is wearing off). The only thing I can do is address these issues with my Doc. Maybe fat was left there. But I have found that when this bulging happens I will sleep in a firm high wasted contol top panty and it pushes it back in. Go figure.

Brina67