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How Can I Tell If I Have Weight Gain or If It's Just Swelling After Tummy Tuck?

asked 8 months ago by Oceanside1370 in Oceanside
Latest answer by Lori H. Saltz, MD
Question viewed 215 times
Tags: swelling, weight gain

I had a full tummy tuck,lipo of flanks,thighs on1/20/11. I had low swelling but from 3 to 6 months I was swelling face, hands, legs tummy. went down for a short time.I had a revision not able to exercise for 1 week. swell was almost gone.I started exercising again and swelled allover again, I am up 15 or so lbs from surgery weight, but eating better, 2 hours exercise daily. My PS says I am not swelling, I need to lose 15 to get him to do my revision. what could be going on, what can I do to lose the weight? Is it fat or swell?

8 answers to How Can I Tell If I Have Weight Gain or If It's Just Swelling After Tummy Tuck?

+1

Swelling Versus Weight Gain

This far out from surgery a 15 pound increase in weight is weight gain, not swelling. Most patients find that they have lost weight by 3-4 months; certainly by 6 months. There is something else going on that is not a result of your surgery. You may want to see a nutritionist if you are exercising 2 hours a day and still not losing weight.
Lori H. Saltz, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.ljcsc.com

+1

Swelling after tummy tuck

Swelling should be resolved by nine months after abdominoplasty. Look for other causes of fullness if it persists.
Steve Laverson, MD

San Diego Plastic Surgeon

feelbeautiful.com

+1

Concerned about 15 pound weight gain 8 months after tummy tuck and liposuction

Swelling from your procedures can take up to a year to maximally resolve. You are 8 months postoperatively from the primary procedures so at this point in time, there should be a negligible amount of weight associated with the swelling. If everything were constant, you should at worst weight your preoperative weight minus the weight of the tissue removed. Therefore, you have put on additional weight of in excess of 15 pounds since then which you will have to lose. In order to address... more
Steven Turkeltaub, MD

Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

+1

Swelling or weight gain after tummy tuck

At 6 months or more postop, there still may be slight swelling but not 15#. You might consider asking your surgeon to show you your preop photos and postops, if you had any taken, and compare the pictures to current ones. Sometimes that helps show if you have any changes elsewhere on your body from weight gain, since we all tend to forget how we looked months ago.
Michelle Spring, MD

Marina Del Rey Plastic Surgeon
+1

Weight gain probably due to lack of exercise

To experience such weight gain this many months after your tummy tuck and liposuction, I would think that it is due to lack of proper dieting and exercise. You should not have 15 pounds weight gain from post op swelling at this point. I recommend controlling your diet and getting plenty of exercise at this point.
James Tang, MD

Houston Plastic Surgeon
+1

Weight gain vs swelling after tummy tuck

Swelling can last up to six months after a tummy tuck but most of it is usually subsided by three to four months. It is not likely that more than six months later that swelling will account for more than five pounds. A fiftteen pound excess is likely due to weight gain. Body contouring surgery including tummy tucks and liposuction are not alternatives to a healthy lifestyle. I often recommend consulting a nutritionist and trainer after surgery in order to... more
Adam Hamawy, MD

Westchester Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swelling versus weight gain

Hello, It is difficult to know without examination or photos. Certainly could be a little of both. If you weigh the same or more now than you did before surgery than there is a weight gain component to the issue. Your weight 6 months after surgery should be less than your weight before your surgery by the amount of fat removed by liposuction and through removal of tissue during the tummy tuck. All the best, Dr Repta
Remus Repta, MD

Phoenix Plastic Surgeon
+1

Swelling?

It's normal for swelling to last six months, a year, or even more in some cases. Weight changes can cause some of what you're describing as well. It's hard to advise you without an exam and, if you're concerned, then there's nothing wrong sith getting someone else's opinion. Good Luck! Scott Newman, MD FACS
Scott E. Newman, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

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