Tummy tuck - How long does swelling last?
How long are you swelled after a tummy tuck? I had one about 3 weeks ago.
Answers (3)
What is the cause of tummy tuck swelling?
There are 2 causes of swelling after a tummy tuck. One is just the natural edema in the skin as a result of dividing the lymphatic channels to the skin as it is lifted off the muscles to accomplish the result. This goes away after 3-4 months.
The other cause of swelling a person might have at 3 weeks postoperatively is called a "seroma" and is a collection of fluid between the skin and the muscles. This can feel like a waterbed and have a fluid wave across the lower abdomen. If present, it may require drainage of the fluid by your doctor.
Swelling is very individualized. The more involved the procedure, the more there will be swelling. But in general, the majority of swelling will go down after 3-6 weeks. However, you might notice swelling for 4-6 months. This may be exacerbated by exercise, diet, alcohol consumption, to name a few.
How long does swelling last after a tummy tuck?
This is one of the most popular questions after an abdominoplasty.
After a tummy tuck, you can look forward to a newer, more shapely you. Abdominoplasties are wonderful at removing fat, tightening the underlying muscles, and removing excess skin.
Tummy tucks vary depending on the technique the surgeon used, whether or not they used liposuction, etc.
When I perform a tummy tuck, liposuction is essential to give the patient the figure they want. Because of this, my patients have to wait for the swelling to subside from the elevation of the flap & from the liposuction itself.
I tell my patients that they will immediately notice a difference in their abdominal area, but that it will take 2 to 3 months for most of the swelling to subside and to get their final result.
Sometimes, some swelling persists over the suture line - this will also go down as your body continues to heal across the scar.
Hope that this helped!
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