Why Do I Have an Issue W/breathing After Tummy Tuck?

I am 6 wks post op from a full tt w/muscle repair all the way up to the rib cage. I developed Atelacstsis of the lungs and was put on Levaquin to help fight any infection that may have been there a few days after my procedure. I have been put on an Inhaler done 5 wks of breathing exercises have had blood work done to make sure there's no blood clot in the body/lungs and although my symptoms have improved I still feel as though it's hard to breathe fully sometimes at night. What can this be?

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breathing problems normal

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by believeinme2 in Hoopeston, IL

Doctor Answers (7)
Community Comments (1)

Tummy Tuck and Breathing Difficulty

It is so common for patients to express this. When we tighten the abdominal wall muscles we are reducing the volume of the intraabdominal compartment, often substantially. For patients with a small 2cm rectus diastasis the reduction in intraabdominal volume is relatively small. But for patients who have 4-6cm of rectus diastases this reduction in intraabdominal volume can become huge. (I won't bore you with the math but is can be impressive). I tell my... more

Difficulty breathing after abdominoplasty

The biggest concern is always blood clots,, your O2 level and Co2 level can be checked. as spiral cat scan considered. if everything looks good.. it just may be your diaphragm still pushing up . rule out all of the serious issues

Tummy Tuck - Why Do I Have an Issue W/breathing After Tummy Tuck?

Call your doctor. While some minor difficulty breathing is common after many types of surgery, and certainly including a tummy tuck, this degree at this relatively late stage is not common. You need to make sure that, however unlikely, you do not have any of a series of potentially dangerous complications and side effects of this (and other) surgeries, The most dangerous of these would be blood clots that have gone to your lungs. Although it's unlikely, you need to make... more

Breathing difficulty post "Tummy Tuck"

Your problem has to do with your abdominal organs residing in less space because your muscle wall was tightened . The guts push up on your diaphragm and make your lungs harder to expand. This usually eases within the first week. Get an incentive spirometer from your local ER and use it.

This is fairly normal

Shortness of breath is a danger sign after a tummy tuck. This can sometimes be do to thromboembolism which can lead to pulmonary emboli or blood clots to the lungs. This can cause shortness of breath and even death. Your doctor has performed the test to rule out this complication. When the abdomen is tightened this will compress the inner organs which pushes up on the diaphragm. This explains why it occurs when lying down sleeping. Try elevating you... more

Tummy Tuck and Difficulty Breathing?

Thank you for the question. I'm glad that you have had the most serious complications such as pneumonia and pulmonary embolism ruled out. Most likely you are dealing with difficulty breathing because of the increased intra-abdominal pressure after tummy tuck putting pressure on the diaphragm (and limiting its excursion). You are probably also deconditioned after a period of relative inactivity after major surgery. I would suggest continued... more

Tightened abdominal compartment

Hello, When you breathe deeply your chest compartment expands a bit into your abdominal compartment. Now your abdominal compartment is tighter with a higher resting pressure. It is a bit harder for you to do what you did before surgery because of this. I have never had one of my patients describe this for long, but it is possible you were made too tight. Hopefully this will improve with time. Things tend to loosen up with time. This is something to address with your... more

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Comments (1)

tracy o 5 Oct 2012

Surgeons need to stop performing tummy tucks. There are so many people who are having life-threatening, life long problems from tummy tucks being too tight. It has ruined my life, and they dont bother to tell you that you might not be able to breathe after surgery, and you will have acid reflux, and hernias because your intra abdominal pressure is so high you pop like a can of biscuits. If they told me this is a complication, I would have never had surgery, or at least not the stomach tightening part.

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