I had a Tummy Tuck with Liposuction 6 days ago, and am able to do everything in exactly the same manner as before, with no pain or discomfort of any kind. I can also still grab a handful of skin on each side of my belly button. Are these normal? Shouldn't there be a least a sensation of tightness after these procedures?
A true abdominoplasty procedure involves resection of skin and subcutaneous fat; tightening of muscles; and a repositioning of the external umbilicus with respect to the overlying skin flap.
In the early postoperative period, patients may experience pain or may be numb in certain areas. Seek the advice of your plastic surgeon for specific complaints about your abdominoplasty procedure. In general, the long term satisfaction with the procedure is extremely high.
Liposuction and abdominoplasty are generic terms to describe methods to remove fat or tighten the abdominal tissue. There are no standards as to how much fat to remove, how much to leave behind, how tight to make the skin, or how loose is too loose. These are all dependent on what a patient desires. Hopefully you fully discussed what you expected and what the surgeon could hope to deliver with the various procedures and techniques at his or her disposal. Never assume you are going to get what you think you are going to get. Communication between patient and surgeon is essential.
Patients respond very individually to the pain and disability that typically goes along with Tummy Tuck and Liposuction. Some patients seem to bounce back sooner than others, with all other factors being the same.
It is unusual to have a great deal of excess abdominal skin after an abdominoplasty, although if a full abdominoplasty was done, it may be possible to pull the skin and fat away from the abdominal wall during the first few days after surgery, since they have probably not re-attached by that time. Although it is unwise to pull the abdominal skin excessively tight during the procedure, it is possible that it was not pulled tight enough.
Express your concerns to your surgeon for proper guidance as to what you should be experiencing.
You are correct to be concerned. All my patients always complain of being too tight after surgery and not to be able to stand up straight for few days after, due to tightness of abdominal skin. Most likely, you did not have enough skin removed, or you might have had a Mini-tummy Tuck with liposuction, instead of a tummy tuck.
I recommend that you review many before-and-after pictures of patients that have had a tummy tuck by the plastic surgeon that you are considering before you schedule your surgery.
Contact the doctor
