I had a tummy tuck about 3 weeks ago. How long should I expect the swelling to last?

Thank you for your question. It is very common to get swollen in the lower abdomen after tummy tuck. There are a number of factors involved. In the early phase the abdomen may seem bloated because many of the narcotics used for pain can slow down the GI tract and cause bloating or constipation. This will generally resolve itself within a few weeks. In the second phase, the tissues above the lower abdominal scar become swollen because the scar tissue stops fluid from migrating downwards. The peak of the scar tissue is about 12 weeks after surgery. This can also be the peak of the puffiness. As the scar tissue matures over 6 to 12 months the fluid in the lower abdomen can travel more normally and the swelling diminishes. While most patients will see a dramatic decrease in swelling about 12 weeks after surgery, the swelling can even improve out to a year. Lastly, the final healing process of the tummy tuck is the abdominal wall stretching again as it decides how tight it can remain after muscle tightening. Even after tightening, the abdominal wall will relax somewhat and find a new equilibrium. As one might expect slender people tend to stay flatter than people to carry more weight inside the abdomen. I hope this helps to answer your question.

Thank you for your question. Swelling will vary from patient to patient and the use of a compression garment for the first 4-6 weeks post-operatively will help with this quite a bit. While most of the swelling will dissipate in the first 3-4 months, it can take 6-12 months for all of the swelling to resolve completely. The use of a compression garment will help to minimize this swelling after your surgery and often keeps patients very comfortable as it is very supportive. In short, it will take quite some time for all of your swelling to resolve if you are only 3 weeks out from your tummy tuck (or abdominoplasty) surgery. If you also had liposuction of your flanks, which I perform on almost all of my tummy tuck patients, the swelling may persist a little bit longer. I would recommend following up with your board certified plastic surgeon to discuss your concerns and see if lymphatic drainage massages are recommended. Each surgeon has their own specific post-operative protocol and as such I find it important to defer to your specific surgeon. Be patient and follow up with your operating surgeon. I hope this helps and best of luck with your new tummy!

Everyone gets impatient waiting on the swelling after tummy tuck. The tummy is immediately tighter and smoother. It is immediately smaller, but some flap swelling occurs, especially at the end of the day. This is caused by a temporary decrease in the lymphatic flow out of the flap. Numbness, which gets smaller with time, tends to make the puffy flap seem bigger to the patient. I have observed that half of the flap swelling resolves in the first month and the other half takes a whole year. Patience will be rewarded with a great final result!

Thanks for your question. The swelling after a tummy tuck takes 3 to 6 months to fully resolve. Most people feel very good about their results within 2 months when most of the swelling has gone. At 3 weeks, there will still be considerable swelling, and most patients can still not fit into a tight pair of jeans. Best wishes for your recovery.

Hi, thank you for your question. Swelling after an abdominoplasty can last many months because your body will need to adjust to the changes that took place during the procedure. These changes affect the normal pathways that fluid takes on its way back to your circulation. Some of these pathways were disrupted during surgery and until secondary pathways can compensate for the amount of fluid generated, all of that fluid will manifest in swelling of your skin and subcutaneous tissues. As you begin to resume your normal activities, you will notice a significant improvement in the swelling. I hope this helps! Good luck in your recovery process.

I tell my patients that there will be some swelling up to four months after the procedure. The last areas to stop swelling are the supra-pubic area (just above your private parts), and the sacral area (just above the buttocks). The normal drainage system (lymphatics) are damaged during the surgery, and it takes time for them to work well again. Patience Best,Dr Results

I'm going to leave a link below to an old blog of mine (which I probably should update) regarding tummy tuck recovery. The video attached will help you understand why the answer to your question is long winded. Basically, swelling after a tummy tuck will go on for months. At first it dissipates rapidly, but the closer you get to finished with it, the slower you progress.Good Luck!

Thank you for your question. Swelling after a tummy tuck is a common occurrence and depending on the extent of your tummy tuck and how much liposuction was done at the same time. Most patients will have significant swelling in the first two weeks but most of that will resolve after 6 weeks. On the other hand, the last 10% or so of the swelling will take about 6 months to resolve. Because of that, patients will be able to see the approximate results at 6 weeks post-op. Shortly, you can expect your swelling to last 3-6 months. Additionally, If you had liposuction at the same time it may be a bit longer recovery.

Hi Paula, Thank you for your question regarding how long does the swelling last after a tummy tuck tuck or abdominoplasty. Basically, every patient heals differently and every tummy tuck procedure is slightly different. Is no absolute law that says 100% of your tummy swelling will be gone at 06:39 AM on the 43rd day after your tummy tuck. Swelling is your body's natural reaction to surgery. Swelling is not just common; swelling is expected after a tummy tuck. In general, however, about 75% of abdominal swelling will be gone eight weeks after a tummy tuck. If you have a more extensive tummy tuck, with more skin and fat resected, and with combined abdominal wall liposuction, the swelling was last longer. The remaining 25% of abdominal swelling is gone about 4 months after a tummy tuck. To minimize swelling in the acute setting, I would suggest arnica pills and arnica tea. To minimize swelling in the long-term setting, I would suggest a compression garment for at minimum 6 to 8 weeks after the abdominal drains have been removed. Thank you for a great question regarding abdominal swelling after a tummy tuck. If you have any more questions regarding an abdominoplasty or tummy tuck, or healing a tummy tuck, please contact my office. Sincerely Dr. Katzen.

Swelling after a tummy tuck is completely normal and expected, especially in the first few weeks following surgery. Most of the swelling typically begins to go down within the first month, but some degree of swelling, especially in the lower abdomen, can persist for several months. You may notice that it fluctuates throughout the day, often being more pronounced by the evening. For most patients, the majority of the swelling resolves by about 3 to 4 months post-op, although it can take up to a year for all the swelling to fully subside. Wearing your compression garment as directed, staying active with light walking, and following all post-operative instructions can help speed up the recovery process. If you ever notice increased swelling, firmness, or asymmetry, be sure to let your surgeon know, just to rule out any complications like fluid collections.