Why Does my Upper Abdomen Still Protrude After my Abdominoplasty?

I had a full TT (based on Operative Rpt) 4 years ago and from the beginning, my lower ab was flat but my upper ab still protruded significantly. No lipo was done. I have not gained weight, am 52 and in good shape. The surgeon says it's because the volume in my ab. is too great to be contained in a smaller cavity and pushes out. How do I find out if this is the case and if there's any remedy-additional tightening or lipo for instance? Many thanks for your response!

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age 45-54 belly

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8 Doctor Answers | Asked by Brooklyn1379 in Brooklyn, NY

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Abdominal complaint

Without seeing photos there is no way to tell what is your problem. I would see a doctor for consultation.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

2 Possible Reasons for Upper Abdominal Fullness after Tummy Tuck

There are at least 2 possible explanations for your continued upper abdominal fullness after your tummy tuck. Mant plastic surgeons are conservative with or unwilling to perform liposuctuction of the upper abdomen with TT since this is the route of the new blood supply to the remaining abdominal skin. If this is the source of your problem, you certainly could undergo lipo at this time. However, if the source is intra-abdominal fat, there is nothing other than general... more

Upper Abominal Bulge after Tummy Tuck

Why Does my Upper Abdomen Still Protrude After my Abdominoplasty? I had a full TT (based on Operative Rpt) 4 years ago and from the beginning, my lower ab was flat but my upper ab still protruded significantly. No lipo was done. I have not gained weight, am 52 and in good shape. The surgeon says it's because the volume in my ab. is too great to be contained in a smaller cavity and pushes out. How do I find out if this is the case and if there's any remedy-additional tightening... more

Fullness in the upper abdomen after a tummy tuck

Fullness or protrusion of the upper abdomen after a tummy tuck is likely due to excess intra-abdominal fatty tissue. This is fat that is deep to your abdominal muscles and can not be addressed by surgery. The only way to address this is to lose weight. The tummy tuck procedure likely tightened your abdominal muscles, but if you had some excess internal fat before surgery, this is still pushing against your abdominal wall creating this somewhat unnatural appearance. I would... more

Excess Upper Abdominal Fullness

It sounds like your surgeon may be in part suggesting excess intraabdominal fat contributing to upper abdominal fullness. An abdominoplasty responds best when the problem is more one of excess skin and muscle laxity then an overall distended shape secondary to intraabdominal fat. If your abdominal fullness did not correct when lying down, this might in fact have suggested intraabdominal fat , and not a surgical problem.

Upper and lower abdomen appearance after tummy tuck

A tummy tuck is great for removing extra skin and fat from the lower abdomen and for tightening the muscles in the upper and lower abdomen. During a tummy tuck, I do not liposuction the UPPER central abdomen at all, due to blood supply issues (the blood supply from the upper abdomen is needed to heal the lower abdomen after a tummy tuck). If you have extra fat creating thickness in the upper abdomen, this is something to be addressed with liposuction about 3 months before or after... more

Persistent bulge of upper abdomend following tummy tuck

You could find out using an MRI or CT imaging but that is essentially unnecessary. Seek a second opinion to confirm your surgeons findings.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

33 reviews

Chicago Plastic Surgeon

Why Does my Upper Abdomen Still Protrude After my Abdominoplasty?

Regarding; "Why Does my Upper Abdomen Still Protrude After my Abdominoplasty? I had a full TT (based on Operative Rpt) 4 years ago and from the beginning, my lower ab was flat but my upper ab still protruded significantly. No lipo was done. I have not gained weight, am 52 and in good shape. The surgeon says it's because the volume in my ab. is too great to be contained in a smaller cavity and pushes out. How do I find out if this is the case and if there's any... more