Lump After Tummy Tuck

asked 1 year ago by Scottsdale3053 in Tummy Tuck - 6 mths post op
Latest answer by Steven Wallach, MD
Question viewed 1,359 times
Tags: female, lumps

This picture is taken while laying down first thing in the morning with bladder FULL to show it at largest- No pain from it ever. It does shift from below belly button on right- some days directly below belly button and crazy enough one day on left! Mornings laying down are key time. I can not feel it standing up. Once in awhile I feel it at night. My plastic surgeon blew it off since he couldnt feel it standing up so after seeing picture said "wow- you need to have that seen" What do I do?

8 answers to Lump After Tummy Tuck

Lump after tummy tuck

The lump could be many different things but the most common cause is a seroma. You should definitely see your surgeon.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Tummy tuck

Have you had this problem since surgery? WHy are you 6 months out with this problem? This is a little hard for me to understand. Ultrasound should sort this out though!

Robert Whitfield, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Hernia or seroma after tummy tuck.

I am a little puzzled by your plastic surgeon's advice. Typically a seroma should be easily diagnosed and would be more apparent standing rather than laying down. His/her surprise may indicate that it is not a seroma. If it is associated with raising your head it may be a hernia or separated diastasis repair. Ultrasound or CT scan may help in the diagnosis.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

"Lump" after tummy tuck: what to do?

You appear to have a seroma after your tummy tuck. A seroma is a collection of straw-colored fluid under the skin--the fluid is what your body normally produces as part of the wound-healing process. Sometimes more is produced in a certain area that the body can absorb, so it makes a "puddle". Typically, this happens when the drains are removed soon after surgery, when compression isn't used faithfully, when a woman returns to increased physical activity... more

Carmen Kavali, MD
Atlanta Plastic Surgeon

Shifting Lump After Tummy Tuck

Regarding: "This picture is taken while laying down first thing in the morning with bladder FULL to show it at largest- No pain from it ever. It does shift from below belly button on right- some days directly below belly button and crazy enough one day on left! Mornings laying down are key time. I can not feel it standing up. Once in awhile I feel it at night. My plastic surgeon blew it off since he couldnt feel it standing up so after seeing picture said "wow- you need to have... more

Peter A. Aldea, MD
Memphis Plastic Surgeon

You need an Ultrasound to figure out what that lump is all about!

Ultrasound is a painless investigative procedure that uses sound waves to create pictures of what is going on deep to the surface of the skin. It is very good at differentiating fluids from other things, and it would be particularly useful in your situation. It would help to figure out if that lump is made of fluid or whether it is made up of something else. It should be scheduled for you first thing in the morning, soon after getting up, since the problem appears... more

Claudio DeLorenzi, MD
Toronto Plastic Surgeon

Need to have furter evaluation by your surgeon

You are obvious bulge that can be due to hernia,seroma or combination. You will need physical examination and possible ultra sound or CT scan.

Kamran Khoobehi, MD
New Orleans Plastic Surgeon

Bulge after tummy tuck

Its really hard to tell what's going on just from the picture. It looks like it's been some time since surgery. It could be a localized fluid collection, or a weakness in the abdominal fascia, which would be more likely if it bulged with straining and went away lying down. A CT or MRI would probably clarify the diagnosis.