Is Pouched-look After Tummy Tuck Swelling?

Thanks for your question -It is common to have abdominal swelling after abdominoplasty. Four weeks usually is enough time from some of the swelling to begin to improve. When thinking about abdominal contour here are things to consider:Skin envelopeAbdominal fat (subcutaneous and intrabdominal)Muscles tightnessIntrinsic SwellingFluid collections Skin Envelope -People complaining of "abdominal bulge" after tummy tuck typically do not have issues with too much skin - that points to... more

 You should check with your doctor to be sure you don't have a seroma, which is a collection of fluid after the drain has been removed.  Otherwise, this is probably swelling that should improve over the next few months.

A "tummy tuck" done in surgeon A's o.r. can be very different from that done in surgeon B's. Was aggressive suction of the flanks or sculpting of the mons area done because thy can add to the swelling. In any case swelling does not completely resolve until 3 to 6 months.

Hi! Unfortunately, this does not sound like swelling. From your description, either you have a seroma (fluid collection) or you had incomplete correction during surgery. The first thing to do is have a sonogram which will tell your doctor if you have any liquid which needs to be aspirated. If a seroma is not removed, it can convert into internal scar tissue, which is then permanent.

Assuming you have to fluid collection present, such as a seroma, you likely just have some normal swelling that will resolve on its own with time. To be safe, I would see your surgeon so he can examine you to verify this. If there is some fluid present, however, he may want to aspirate it to speed up the healing.

1- swelling- should go away within 3-6 months 2-Scar contraction at the suture line can cause the incision to indent - this will make the tummy look like it has a bulge. 3-Hematoma or seroma - a collection of blood or fluid that will give a bulge - either way, the fluid should be removed. see your doctor and ask, which of these things you see. Best of luck.

There will be swelling aftetr the procedure, but you should see a significant improvement right after surgery.  If you were to send a frontal, quarter and side view, I would be able to be more specific. sek

Hello In our Santa Rosa abdominoplasty practice, we tell patients to wait two months before judging a final result. The pouch you refer to could be just residual swelling. It could also be a fluid collection called a seroma, so go back to your surgeon and make sure there is no fluid that needs to be aspirated with a syringe. Your surgeon may also want you to wear a compression garment if it is just swelling. Usually it takes 2 months to see the final result so hang in there during this... more

I would discuss it further with your plastic surgeon. It is too early to look at the final result. In cases where a large abdominal flap was present before surgery, the upper abdomen might still have some bulge due to intra-abdominal fat content.