How to Fix Too Tight Tummy Tuck?

It sounds like you have a few different things going on here. If you're too tight then it would be a bit unusual for you to have no waist and look like your pregnant. Abdominoplasty deals with excess skin and then tightening your core (your rectus muscles). Muscle spasm may be caused by rectus plication but this usually goes away with time. Tight skin closure usually loosens up over time. In fact most abdominoplasties can be revised about a year afterwards. It really sounds like your... more

The skin tightness could be undone with more dissection and freeing the tissues. If the muscles were sutured too tight, it is a harder issue to fix. The specifics will need to be discussed after a clinical exam. In general, the tissues should relax after some time. Three years is plenty of time for this to happen. I suggest a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon to be able to conduct a clinical exam.

Cathie, This is a very interesting scenario. The loss of your waistline is especially concerning. The skin, after a tummy tuck, is almost never too tight. It's possible that your muscle repair stitches have broken. This would cause pressure from your abdomen to be transmitted to the skin overlying it and would explain a loss of your waistline. See your local board certified plastic surgeon for a consultation. Good luck!

I agree with the other surgeon. You have had plenty of time - 3yrs - for you tissues to relax and even stretch if needed to not have a "too tight" feeling. You definitely would benefit from a comprehensive evaluation and examination by your original surgeon or a board certified plastic surgeon. I am suprised that you look pregnant but feel "too tight". If your sutures that were holding the muscle covering together have come loose and therefore put more pressure on... more

Cathiee44, You really need to post a picture for us to give you specific advice. If you look pregnant, then I am not sure what you are referring to as too tight. Either the skin is too tight (which will stretch over time) and/or the muscles are too tight (which doesn't seem to be the case since you say you look pregnant). Either way, you should return to your surgeon or see another surgeon in consultation who can examine you and give you individualized advice / guidance.

It is unlclear what is exactly tight. I am assuming the muscles aren't too tight if you say you don't have a waist line. If the muscles are too tight and you get spasm, it can be very difficult to correct this presuming that you had tightening of the msucle which now has scar tissue on it. If the skin is till too tight after 3 years, it may not be wise to try to open your abdominal skin which could then be hard to close. Was there secondary healing (delayed healing) after your first... more

The natural course of recovery after a tummy tuck is for things to feel too tight for a week or two and gradually relax. Your description of spasms, loss of waist definition and fullness of the abdomen does not sound anything like a tummy tuck that is "too tight". I would recommend you see your doctor to see what is really going on.

Dear Cathiee, Three years is too long to feel tight from a tummy tuck. Furthermore, because you say you have lost your waist and look pregnant, you may have an underlying intra-abdomenal mass that needs to be evaluated. See you doctor ASAP. Good Luck!

It is impossible to give you advice without a careful examination and review of your operative report. Anything said would be mere speculation. I would suggest going to 1 or 2 board-certified plastic surgeon who do abdominoplasties.

Tummy Tuck is a very popular operation. I have done several hundred. I've never seen one that is too tight.  I suggest you see a board certified plastic surgeon to have an evaluation. I'm not sure there is anything that can be done to relax this without have another operation.

I have been told by many general surgeons that the muscle tightening we perform in tummy tucks will not last. I think you are an example of someone who proves them wrong. This does not happen often but one of my paitents experienced similar complaints. On further questioning it was apparent that she had gained a significant amount of weight which casued the condition. Essentially, her muscle repair was too tight for her increased size. In this particular patient, I had used a mesh to... more

Cathiie It depends on where you are too "tight" - the upper muscle, lower muscle or skin layer. Your description seems to indicate that your upper muscle layer was tightened too much causing a bulge in the lower abdomen, but photographs would help. If the muscle layer is too tight, it may be possible to release some of the sutures or release the fascia to improve your results. I recommend seeking a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon for this type of secondary abdominoplasty correction. more