How Common is It for Muscles That Have Been Fixed During a Full Tummy Tuck to Reappear and Pooch Back out Again?

asked 6 months ago by newmomat37 in Peoria, AZ
Latest answer by William Bruno, MD
Question viewed 284 times
Tags: muscle repair, normal, pooch, reoccur

I ask this because I have read more than one comment on this site from women who have had full tummy tucks only to have their stomachs pooch back out several months after recovery. Some have provided pictures that show a great healing process but then their stomach starts to bulge again. I am not talking about weight gain. I am considering getting a full tummy tuck for severe diastasis but would be so disappointed to have the pooch return. Is this common?

6 answers to How Common is It for Muscles That Have Been Fixed During a Full Tummy Tuck to Reappear and Pooch Back out Again?

Abdominal bulge after tummy tuck

It is very unusual for the abdominal wall to bulge again after a properly performed tummy tuck. The muscle plication (tightening) is done with permanent sutures which rarely ever become loosened. Although this could occur with weight gain or excessive exercise right after surgery. Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to see if you are a good tummy tuck candidate. Best wishes, Dr.Bruno

William Bruno, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

www.williambrunomd.com

Pooching after Tummy Tuck

Hello! Great Question! Tummy Tucks are the Cadillac of Body Shaping . A 16-->6 or a 18__.10 is not uncommon. However, it is up to you to maintain the shape of your body. THe more overweight you are before the tummy tuck, the more you have a chance to "reaquire" the pooch as it is stretched out by the contents of your abdomen Get busy dieting and exercising to keep the pooch away Dr jeneby

Thomas T. Jeneby, MD
San Antonio Plastic Surgeon

www.beautybyjeneby.com

Pooching of the abdomen after surgery not too common

It is not very common for either stretching of the muscles or breakage of the repair of a diastasis long term after a tummy tuck. In the immediate postoperative period possibly up to 8 weeks you will be at an increased risk to rupture the repair of the muscles. Typically, this can be the result of severe nausea and emesis right after surgery; spasms of coughing or sneezing early on or lifting very heavy weights. If you do put on weight of have significant fluctuations of weight long term,... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Recurrence of Abdominal Bulging after tummy tuck

This is a rare problem after abdominoplasty, but I have seen it occur. If the abdominoplasty is done in a thin patient with significant diastasis, there are 3 reasons that this can happen. The plication may not have been tight enough to correct the diastasis. Secondly, the suture(s) used to repair the diastasis can break or pull through the weakened muscle fascia especially if the fascia is thinned out. I have had a patient rupture her repair by doing too much lifting... more

Donald Griffin, MD
Nashville Plastic Surgeon

Separation of abdominal wall muscle plication

Thank you for the question. Some of the best results seen after tummy tuck surgery are seen with patients who have “severe diastasis"; the plication of the abdominal wall muscles that have spread with pregnancy and/or weight gain/loss serves to firm up the abdomen as well as narrow the waistline. The incidence of recurrence of the diastasis (or “pooch”) should be very low in the hands of well experienced board-certified plastic surgeons.... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

Recurrent Abdominal Fullness After A Tummy Tuck

Dear Newmomat37, The most common reason for regaining fullness in the abdomen after having a tummy tuck is recurrent weight gain but you are looking for other sources for this problem. One possible cause could be the failure to recognize a significant diastasis(seperation) of the rectus muscles which are then not repaired. This continued area of fullness can restretch the soft tissues of the abdomen including the skin. Fluid collections between the muscle and the skin... more

Herluf G. Lund, Jr, MD
Saint Louis Plastic Surgeon

www.stlcosmeticsurgery.com

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