Had Tummy Tuck 27 Days Ago Swelling Never Decreases? (photo)

I had a Tummy Tuck with Lipo to Abd Flanks with Breast Lift on June 27th. From the first time I took my Binder off till today I have a round belly. It is not flat and has never been. People talk about swelling and that its better in the AM but mine stays the same all day. I wear my CG all the time. It is tight. I had a drain for 8 days post op and it was only draining about 25cc last 3-4 days. When I saw my PS about 2 weeks ago he thought there was a seroma and attempted to drain but no fluid.

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swelling 1 month post-op

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9 Doctor Answers | Asked by nursepatient

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Mommy makeover and swelling

Hi, It is possible that the tissue of the upper abdomen had some thickness such that when redraped, it still would maintain some thickness and fluid. Your fluid drainage is quite small in the post op period so the possibility of a seroma always needs to be ruled out. If your doctor stuck a needle through the lower tissue and did not get any fluid (serum), then it is possible that you have a lot of fluid in the tissue itself. You will notice that... more

Postop Abdominal Swelling

I am sorry to hear about your prolonged swelling. Unfortunately lower abdominal swelling can take up to 3 months to resolve. It would be helpful to see your before photos to assess where you started. An ultrasound may be helpful if the swelling increases or does not improve to exclude any seroma pockets. I wish you a safe and healthy recovery.

Swelling after tummy tuck

It can take at least 6 months for tummy tuck swelling to completely go away, and sometimes it can take a year. So since you're only 4 weeks out from surgery, you definitely have swelling. And since your plastic surgeon was unable to drain any fluid, it's very unlikely that you have a seroma. I know it's easier said than done, but try to be patient, continue wearing your compression garment, massage your abdomen daily, and keep your appointments with your surgeon. I hope that helps... more

Hello

Without a examining you personally it’s hard to see what it can possible be. Swelling after surgery takes 6-9 months to see final results. If you’re using your compression garment that’s good that helps. Keep your follow up appointments and give your body time to heal.

Postoperative Swelling from Tummy Tuck

From your photo, it does appear that there is a significant abdominal wall bulge, but this is difficult to see. You could have postoperative swelling of the tissues, a recurrent seroma or fluid collection or an incomplete correction of the abdomen. Without seeing you pre-op and in person, we cannot tell. Revisit with your surgeon to get a better opinon or re-post more and better quality photos for more insight. Best of luck, Vincent Marin, MD San Diego Plastic Surgeon more

Tough to tell

It is difficult to tell what you undesired contour could be but as the other doctors alluded to, it could simply be swelling fluid (edema). However one possibility that has not been mentioned is a disruption of your diastasis repair or no facial plication at all. If you do not trust your surgeon to give you an honest answer, they you may want to request a copy of the operative report which may give some clues as to what was exactly done. However, my best guess at this point... more

Had Tummy Tuck 27 Days Ago Swelling Never Decreases? (

Thanks for your question and for the attached photo. Without a pre-op photo to compare, it is not easy to guess the cause. Persistent fullness can be due to Incomplete abdominal wall correction (or loss of that correction) Fluid collection-hematoma (blood) or seroma (fluid) Incomplete thinning of the lower abdominal skin Swelling At this point in time you would do well to see your surgeon again, and if a seroma or hematoma is suspected, another try... more

Swelling after Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question. As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment. Abdominal wall "swelling" after tummy tuck may be related to: 1. Swelling in the soft tissues. This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity or at the end of the day. Patience is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and... more

Persistent swelling after tummy tuck

Thanks for sharing your photo. However, your photo is limited in quality. It is hard to comment without direct examination. Post-operative "swelling" may be due to 1) tissue edema, 2) fluid collection such as seroma or hematoma, or 3) thickness of your abdominal fatty layer. You will not see the final result/contour of the TT for 3 months. I would visit with your plastic surgeon to make sure that you do not have seroma. If you have tissue edema, your... more