No Tightness or Pain After Tummy Tuck and Liposuction

I had a Tummy Tuck with Liposuction 6 days ago, and am able to do everything in exactly the same manner as before, with no pain or discomfort of any kind. I can also still grab a handful of skin on each side of my belly button. Are these normal? Shouldn't there be a least a sensation of tightness after these procedures?

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tightness 1 week post-op

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18 Doctor Answers | Asked by scubaotter73 in atlanta ga

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Are you sure you had the surgery?

After an abdominoplasty and liposuction, your skin should be tight. You definitely should not be able to grab a "handful" of skin. Since I do not know the particulars of your surgery, it is hard to comment with specificity. However, after abdominoplasty, your skin is usually so tight it is hard to stand up straight for a few days. Did you perhaps have a mini-abdominoplasty with liposuction. If so, maybe you should have had a full abdominoplasty. In the mini-abdominoplasty, your... more

"Tummy Tuck" is not one operation

Hello, Tummy tuck surgery varies by type and extent. Some surgeons do not routinely include muscular repair or extensive skin removal as part of the operation. Some patients do not benefit by the same extent of surgery as others.You might want to have a sit down with your surgeon to ask this question and to find out exactly whay he or she did at surgery. It is of course better to have an understanding before surgery of what the goals are and what realistically is to be accomplished. You... more

Tightness after abdominoplasty

Usually the first week after the surgery the tightness and discomfort is the most noticeable due to the swelling from the surgery. Typically you would not be able to pinch excess skin. Also during the first week most surgeons ask you to walk with a slight bend in your back to avoid tension on your incision. Your activity will also be very restricted in the first week. With liposuction alone, however, you will recover much faster and may still have loose skin. You should discuss your... more

Tummy tuck and liposuction

Techniques between surgeons differ and post-op day six is still early but usually after a tummy tuck in my San Francisco practice patients notice significantly tighter abdomens. Generally, it can be quite common for patients to walk slightly bent over secondary to the tightness. You should discuss your concerns with your surgeon. Abdominoplasties are fantastic ways to contour the abdomen and remove excess skin as well as tighten the core muscles of the abdomen. I hope this helps. Steven... more

You need to talk with your treating surgeon and discuss the procedure with him/her.

The answer to your question is quite simple. You need to talk with your treating surgeon and discuss the procedure with him/her. Obviously, there are many surgical variations of tummy tuck and liposuction.

Tummy Tuck is not one operation

HI- I agree that it sounds like you may have had a limited operation. I would review with your surgeon exactly what technique was used, and what you should be able to expect as healing and dissipation of swelling occur. There are several variations of the abdominoplasty (I personally perform 4 different tummy tuck techniques, depending on my patient's anatomy and goals), and each differs a bit in what it addresses, the expected outcome, and recovery.

Not enough pain and too much loose skin.

You are clearly concerned that you did not have enough done. And of course, there is no way to tell long distance. Your story is not typical. Most patients have more discomfort. And usually , the skin of the abdomen is quite tight after a tummy tuck. But hopefully you picked a surgeon because you trust him or her. So I recommend that you have faith, at least in the short term. You will know in a month or so if you are happy with the result.

Uncommon

Most patients will have some tightness, discomfort, and pain after a tummy tuck with liposuction 6 days prior. This is especially true with a full tummy tuck since the muscle under the skin is tightened. As mentioned, most patients cannot stand fully straight for a few days. Liposuction by itself may not give you tightness, discomfort, or pain. But, when combined with a full tummy tuck, you should have some or all of those symptoms for several days (1-2 weeks). You state that you can... more

Hard to Say

Patients respond very individually to the pain and disability that typically goes along with Tummy Tuck and Liposuction. Some patients seem to bounce back sooner than others, with all other factors being the same. It is unusual to have a great deal of excess abdominal skin after an abdominoplasty, although if a full abdominoplasty was done, it may be possible to pull the skin and fat away from the abdominal wall during the first few days after surgery, since they have probably not... more

Not everyone

Even after a tummy tuck, you should be able to grab a little bit of skin expecially when you are sitting down. I tell patients taht a tumy tuck will not make you so tight that you can bounce a quarter off of your skin. In fact, if it is too tight, the scar usually spreads.