Stomach Looks Larger After Tummy Tuck - Is there a problem?

Thanks for your question -

It is difficult to say without an examination. Abdominal bulges that occur after your initial healing can represent several things.
It may be a fluid collection that has occurred after your drains were removed (this could include hematoma or seroma. These will usually resolve on their own but may require drainage. Your description of the area being hard point more towards a hematoma.
It may also represent a separation of your muscle repair. This can be something that may need surgical revision.
It may just be residual swelling within the tissue itself.
Be sure to address your concerns with your plastic surgeon.
I hope this helps.

This is an interesting problem. Bulging after surgery in the abdominal area can be due to a number of factors: 1) Fluid collections - these are generally detected as firm distension of the skin, and there is a slosh, or wave effect on palpation. 2) Hernia - this is usually felt as a distinct area of swelling in the abdominal wall, this can be reduced with with manual pressure. The other three factors are fat between skin and muscle (usually this is the fat you can pinch), fat under the muscle (This is usually felt as firm distension of the abdomen), and posture. Since you describe this as firm distension, I am inclined to think it is fat under muscle, or posture. Does the contour change when you stand up straight? I think it is highly unlikely that you have muscle separation or hernia. Maintain a healthy lifestyle, and keep in touch with your surgeon. If you do have a correctable problem I am sure he will sort it out and offer a solution. Best wishes
Matthew C Camp MD

The presence of a significant abdominal bulge four months
following abdominoplasty surgery should be aggressively investigated.
Especially if this bulge wasn’t present in the immediate post-operative period.
This type of bulge could occur for a variety of reasons including swelling,
seroma formation, encapsulated hematoma, residual muscle weakness, recurrent
separation of the muscles, intra-abdominal fat, excess subcutaneous fat and
possibly fat necrosis.Under
these circumstances it’s appropriate to obtain ultrasound and possibly MRI
studies. Depending upon the results revisional surgery may be indicated. For
these reasons it’s important to consult your plastic surgeon. Your surgeon
should be able to formulate an appropriate treatment plan.