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Can Being Premenstrual Contribute to Significant Swelling While Recovering from Tummytuck?

I am 4 weeks post op today and have noticed that my midsection has begun to swell quite a bit. No "water bed" motion except in my mons area. I was pretty freaked out by it today, but then realized I'm about a week from starting my period. Would normal premenstrual water retention be amplified by tummy tuck recovery?

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menstruation swelling 1 week post-op water retention

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by jenny32 in Memphis, TN

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Tummy Tuck

You are very observant and “yes” this can affect your retention. Eating out at very salty restaurants can also cause some retention of fluid. Expect your abdomen to go down in size after your period resolves.

Tummy Tuck and Swelling?

Watery swelling after a conventional tummy tuck is common. It may, or may not, be related to your cycle. prior to 2010 I did conventional (drain) tummy tiuks. Since then I switched to no drain tummy tucks. this new method is called progressive tension abdominoplasty. I haven't had a seroma (watery collection) since, and my patients are telling me they have no pain! This surgery approach eliminates the so called "dead space," it may be the end of seromas (watery... more

Premenstrual swelling

The swelling after a TT last for about 6 month, sometimes longer. Flucuations can be seen after more than usual physical activity and ceretainly menstrual hormone changes, but if you see a "water bed" motion in your mons area you may have a seroma that should be drained, I suggest you see your surgeon in the next few days and have it checked out.

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Swelling 4 weeks after tummy tuck could also be a seroma.

Premenstrual swelling is certainly "amplified" by having had recent surgery, and just as each woman has a different degree of swelling or fluid retention with her period as compared to any other woman, so can the effects of surgery on fluid retention in the tissues that were operated on, as well as the rest of the body. However, there are two types of swelling to be aware of, as one requires nothing but time, healing, and regrowth of normal lymphatics (edema as a result of... more

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