Is this just extra skin where the doctor didn't remove enough skin during my tummy tuck with muscle repair? (Photo)

Healing after tummy tuck takes 6-12 months, and lymphatic swelling is evident to decreasing degrees over this time. Some things will make it worse, like excessive salt intake, exercise that stimulates lymphatic production (only temporary), scar fibrosis that has yet to soften and stretch, and scar tissue that blocks lymphatic drainage, to name a few.You have extensive striae (stretch marks), indicative of naturally poor skin tone and elasticity, and no matter how tight your surgeon makes your abdomen, the same stretchy skin encloses it, and will again re-stretch over time. This means that no matter how much of this type of skin is removed, it tends to again develop this kind of laxity.Exercise is good for the avoidance of fat deposition, and the toning and tightening of abdominal muscles, but no one can exercise skin to tightness, no matter how many sit-ups or crunches. Sorry.This present appearance is still very early in the healing process. Keep up your dietary management, exercise, compression (particularly when exercising, when you tend to retain fluid in your abdominal tissues), and see your surgeon in follow-up. Delay any consideration of additional surgery until at least one year post-op. You can expect this to get somewhat better as time goes by--it's just that no one can tell you how much improvement can be achieved or how long it takes to reach a new end point. Exercise never hurts, always helps to some degree, but never "fixes." Best wishes! Dr. Tholen

Thank you for your question and photographs.  Because it appears that your swelling is largely dependent on gravity, and your activity level, I would recommend you wait a few more months before assessing your final results.  Even at 8 weeks you are only recently out from surgery and your body still needs time to learn not to cause this degree of swelling in and around your tummy tuck incision.  It may also benefit you to find a compression garment when you exercise that comes up higher on your stomach to help prevent quite so much swelling after the gym.  As difficult as it is to wait, I think giving your results more time will ultimately lead to a result that you are happy with.  Be sure to speak with your surgeon about your concerns, as they can provide further reassurance. 

Hello and thanks for using RealSelf.  I am in total agreement with Dr Pousti in that you will continue to see improvements in contour for up to a year.  Discussing revision surgery at 8 weeks is pointless.  Changes will still occur but slowly over the next 6 to 10 months.  The swelling is always more at the lower part of the tummy as your pictures show.  I would recommend you still wear a very supportive compression garment especially at work and when you exercise.Discuss your concerns with your surgeon.  He or she will be happy to answer your questions and allay your anxieties.