Can a Tummy Tuck Be Undone? Have Been Having Shortness Of Breath For 6 Months Since Surgery.

asked 6 months ago by Gladys3224 in Milwaukee, WI
Latest answer by Andre Aboolian, MD
Question viewed 121 times
Tags: 6 months post-op, breathing problems, options, reverse

I had my tummy tuck June 18th 2011. The second day of the surgery i started to fill shortness of breath and tightness of the throat. Dr. Told me to go in er right away cause it coulve been an pulmonary embolism. But they did all the test in the world and everything came back fine. they told me that it would go away and that maybe it was the effects of the anesthesia. 6 months from my surgery and i still have the shortness of breath. Can i have this tummy tuck undone? And is it safe?

5 answers to Can a Tummy Tuck Be Undone? Have Been Having Shortness Of Breath For 6 Months Since Surgery.

Shortness of Breath 6 months after Tummy Tuck?

Thank you for the question. I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you have experienced since your surgery. Yes, abdominal wall plication can be “undone”. The effect of doing this would be to decrease intra-abdominal pressure and possibly allow for improved/increased diaphragm movement. This may or may not improve your respiratory symptoms. However, I would suggest that you be evaluated by the best pulmonologists you can find prior to... more

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

www.poustiplasticsurgery.com

You need a work up

It is very rare (I have never seen one) to tighten the abdominal wall so much that you get reflux symptoms. You should be worked up by a pulmonary and Gastro doctor to see if you have acid reflux and be treated for it. To undo the plication of the wall is I "guess" possible but I wonder if it will cause more damage then good?

Andre Aboolian, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

SOB persisting almost 6 months post tummy tuck

Your protracted history of SOB following a tummy tuck that was not the result of a pulmonary embolus is extremely rare. I have never personally seen this. It is possible that you are experiencing this due to a very tight plication of the rectus muscles. Less likely is that an excessive amount of skin was removed though if this was the case, it should have improved with time. You should definitely be evaluated by an internist and pulmonologist (lung doctor) and any additional specialist... more

Steven Turkeltaub, MD
Scottsdale Plastic Surgeon

www.turkeltaub.com

Persistent Shortness of Breath Following Tummy Tuck

Your persistent shortness of breath is rare following tummy tuck surgery, and I have not had a patient with this problem. Deep inspiration may be limited following the operation as a result of the post-op pain. If the volume of the intra-abdominal contents was large or herniated, a tight plication may increase intra-abdominal pressure enough that it results in decreased diaphragmatic excursion; this may then lead to breathing difficulties. Deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism is... more

Kenneth Dembny, II, MD
Milwaukee Plastic Surgeon

Short of breath after tummy tuck

Your doctor did the right thing, confiming that you had no venous thrombosis after your tummy tuck. The fact that your shortness of breath is still present is confusing. Your tummy tuck cannot be undone and it is time for a good physical by your primary doctor to help sort things out as your shortness of breath can have very many causes. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

Peter E. Johnson, MD
Chicago Plastic Surgeon

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