Hard Bulge After Tummy Tuck with Muscle Repair

I am 8 months post tummy tuck with muscle repair. I have a hard bulge around my belly button area, and pulling "stuck" sensations with certain movements. I feel very tight much of the time, and sometimes achey in my ab muscles. Does this sound like scar tissue that needs to be loosened to alleviate the discomfort? My recovery was without complication.

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by Maximus in Newport Beach, CA

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Tightness in periumbilical area after tummy tuck

Tighteness around the umbilical region after a tummy tuck is not uncommon. The firmness usually softens over time. This may take up to a year.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Bulging and firm area in the abdomen after a tummy tuck

Tummy tucks are a very popular and effective way to contour the abdomen. In our practice, we include liposuction with every tummy tuck. We strongly feel that liposuction is important technique that allows us to contour your body and reach areas of the abdomen that we otherwise would not be able to get to with a tummy tuck alone. Patients who undergo this procedure must understand that there is a significant recovery process. Patients will experience swelling and bruising that can... more

Not unusual to have firmness around belly button after abdominioplasty

This is likely a combination of scar tissue and compromised fat around the belly button which is poorly vascularized. Generally over time, this will resolve. The tight feeling also tends to resolve unless you have gained weight since undergoing the surgery. As mentioned, discuss your concerns with your surgeon to ensure that all is healing well and there is no other cause for your findings.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Probably

Hi there- It is, of course impossible for me to know for sure without examining you and having a better understanding of how your surgery was done (there are many ways to tuck a tummy), but is sounds like you are experiencing some contraction of the scar tissue that formed under your skin. Just as scar forms in the skin, it also does so underneath at the site of your muscular repair. All scar tissue is very inflexible, and also tends to shrink (or contract) over the first year or so. With... more