93%

1,904 reviews

Worth It Rating Our index shows the percentage of community members saying this was "Worth it". See cosmetic treatment rankings

Tummy Tuck Cost ≈ $8,400 average cost

Write a review | Ask a Question

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?

Asked 39 months ago by scubaotter73 in atlanta ga

Tags:

1 week post-op tightness

You might have had a Mini-Tummy Tuck instead

You are correct to be concerned. All my patients always complain of being too tight after surgery and not to be able to stand up straight for few days after, due to tightness of abdominal skin. Most likely, you did not have enough skin removed, or you might have had a Mini-tummy Tuck with liposuction, instead of a tummy tuck. I recommend that you review many before-and-after pictures of patients that have had a tummy tuck by the plastic surgeon that you are considering before you schedule... more

Doctor's Website

S. Sean Younai, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

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

Doctor's Website

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

"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

John P. Di Saia, MD

Orange Plastic Surgeon

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

Bahram Ghaderi, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

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

Steven H. Williams, MD

San Francisco Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

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.

Stephen A. Goldstein, MD

Denver Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

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.

Doctor's Website

Armando Soto, MD

Orlando Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

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.

George J. Beraka, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

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

Sirish Maddali, MD

Portland Plastic Surgeon

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

Athleo Louis Cambre, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

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.

Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

No standard

Liposuction and abdominoplasty are generic terms to describe methods to remove fat or tighten the abdominal tissue. There are no standards as to how much fat to remove, how much to leave behind, how tight to make the skin, or how loose is too loose. These are all dependent on what a patient desires. Hopefully you fully discussed what you expected and what the surgeon could hope to deliver with the various procedures and techniques at his or her disposal. Never assume you are going to get... more

Robin T.W. Yuan, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Tummy still loose after tummy tuck

Typically 6 days after a tummy tuck, most individuals will experience a taut and swollen abdomen. I would discuss your procedure with your surgeon.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

You should expect tightness after a tummy tuck

Interesting question. It sounds like you have a lot of laxity in your abdominal tissues after you tummy tuck. This is somewhat unusual. You should definitely discuss your concerns with your plastic surgeon and review how much tissue was removed and if they performed a plication (tightening of the muscles) during the surgery. We have seen a lot of cases of patients presenting to our clinic after having had a tummy tuck by a non board certified plastic surgeon with too much laxity and... more

Doctor's Website

B. Pat Pazmino, MD

Miami Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Check back with your surgeon

To be able to judge this accurately and fairly a pre and post op pictures will be required.I would say check with your plastic surgeon on this matter. There is tightness after a tummy tuck but the perception of this is similar to preceiving pain which will depend on your pain threshold.

Hisham Seify, MD, PhD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Discomfort and tightness is common

The skin tends to tighten somewhat as it heals. Also, the abdomen usually is tight due to spasm after a tummy tuck, and this usually lasts for weeks. Everyone is different however, and there are different types of tummy tuck. Your ps can give you an idea of what to expect. Hope this helps. sek www.drkasden.us scottkinfw@msn.com

Scott E. Kasden, MD

Dallas Plastic Surgeon

ASAPS ASPS

Abdominoplasty and postoperative pain

A true abdominoplasty procedure involves resection of skin and subcutaneous fat; tightening of muscles; and a repositioning of the external umbilicus with respect to the overlying skin flap. In the early postoperative period, patients may experience pain or may be numb in certain areas. Seek the advice of your plastic surgeon for specific complaints about your abdominoplasty procedure. In general, the long term satisfaction with the procedure is extremely high.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD

Los Angeles Plastic Surgeon

Sounds a bit unusual

Your story does sound unusual to say the least. During your initial consultation with your plastic surgeon you should have discussed your goals and expectations. It sound to me like there was a degree of lack of communication. I would review the procedure with your surgeon and discuss your findings and ask for an explanation. If you had a full abdominoplasty your would expect an incision around your umbilicus as well as a transverse incision across the bikini area. Otherwise you may... more