One Month Post Mini Tummy Tuck, Upper Abdomen is Huge? (photo)

I had my mini tummy tuck with lipo and muscle repair done exactly one month ago and my results dont look good. My upper abdomen looks bloated, not like swelling but actually bloated and is popped out like as though I am 5 months pregnant. My upper abdomen was pretty flat before but now it looks crazy. What could be wrong ? My PS is very nice person and I see him tomorrow. Hopefully I will know why tomorrow but thought I will ask the experts here. Thanks, Mia

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6 Doctor Answers | Asked by maya_zoye in San Jose, CA

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Bulging of upper abdomen following Mini Tummy Tuck

There can be more than one reason but the most common explanation is as follows: Assuming that there was not procedure such as liposuction in the upper abdomen, the following is probably what occurred: When the muscles are tightened on the lower tummy, this compresses by pushing in the abdominal contents (e.g. your intestines and other abdominal organs). The volume has to go somewhere so if the upper muscles are not also tightened to the same tension as the lower ones they will... more

Mini tuck and upper abdominal fullness

Hi, Remember that you had a mini tuck. You and your ps decided to approach the lower abdomen only. This is what the mini tuck does. With or without your muscles of the lower abdomen tightened with your minituck, there would be some improvement with the tissue removed from the lower abdomen. Now you are seeing the "relative" nature of the improved lower abdomen compared to the upper. You may not have evaluated the remaining upper abdomen totally in... more

Mini tummy tuck

That is the problem with mini-tummy tucks. They often tighten the lower abdomen but do little to nothing for the upper. If your surgeon did not tighten the upper abdominal wall, then it most likely is distended.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

One Month Post Mini Tummy Tuck, Upper Abdomen is Huge?

Thanks for attempting to post photos. Unfortunately they are of no real help. I guess is you where not a great candidate for a mini TT with inferior muscle repair. With short time of healing and less cost the mini TT is gaining popularity. But you MUST be a GREAT candidate and that takes expert experience without regard to healing time and fees. The saying from my Plastic Surgery Professor was, "you can not steal from Peter to pay Paul." seems to apply. There are trade offs and I... more

Bulging upper abdomen

It would be helpful to see what you looked like before the surgery but assuming the bulge in the upper abdomen was not there before the surgery and nothing (liposuction etc) was done in that area, then most likely cause is the fact that you had muscle tightening done on the lower abdomen only. For this exact reason I never perform 'partial' muscle tightening. I either tighten the entire muscle, from the chest bone down to the bottom of the abdomen, or I don't tighten at... more

Mini Tummy Tuck Results?

Thank you for the question and pictures. Your plastic surgeon will be in the best position to advise you after examining you. The most likely cause of the “bloated” look is abdominal wall laxity that was not addressed during the mini tummy tuck operation. Generally speaking, the mini tummy tuck is an operation that produces very limited results and is very rarely indicated. It involves a shorter incision but does not address the... more