Muscle Repair Failure or Swelling After Tummy Tuck?

At three months time your surgeon should be able to tell you if you have swelling there still, or is it just fat or failure of the repair.
This is pretty much done by physical exam. In very rare occasions, further studies can be done to make sure that there is not a fluid collection, which usually doesnt settle up high. But I would talk to your plastic surgeon and have him or her examine you and state your concern. They should be able to tell you if something has happened with your repair.
Good luck.

Thank you for reaching out with your question about how to differentiate between muscle repair failure and swelling three months after a tummy tuck. It's an important concern, and distinguishing between the two is crucial for appropriate management.
To definitively determine if there is muscle repair failure following a tummy tuck, imaging studies such as a CT scan or, ideally, an MRI are recommended. These tests provide detailed images that can help assess the integrity of the muscle repair. Ultrasounds, while useful for certain diagnostic purposes, may not be as reliable for this specific assessment.
If you are concerned about the possibility of muscle repair failure, it is essential to consult with your plastic surgeon. They can evaluate your condition and, if necessary, order the appropriate imaging tests. It's worth noting that muscle repair failure is relatively rare, especially considering that most plastic surgeons use permanent sutures for rectus abdominis plication during a tummy tuck. Additionally, surgeons often use multiple sutures in the repair process. Therefore, even if one or two sutures were to fail, the remaining sutures typically provide sufficient support to the muscle.
It's also important to consider that swelling can persist for several months following a tummy tuck and can vary in severity from one person to another. This is a normal part of the healing process and usually resolves with time.
I hope this information helps clarify the steps you should take to determine the cause of your concerns three months post-tummy tuck. Remember, your surgeon is your best resource for personalized advice and follow-up care.
Good luck, and I hope you find the answers and solutions you need for a smooth recovery.
Sincerely,
Dr. Katzen

At three months you can have your surgeon inspect your stomach to see if it's swelling or something else that requires revision surgery. You can also check if you need muscle repair on your own:lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floorraise your head and shoulders up, as you would in a crunchtry to fit your fingers in between the left and right part of your ab muscles, in the middle (vertically) of your stomachIf two or more fingers fit width wise, then chances are you'll need the repair performed again.