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Is an Upper Abdominal Bulge Normal 3 Months Post-Op Full TT? (photo)

I am 3 months po FTT with muscle repair. I notice in my mid line of my upper abs there is a bulge that makes my stomach more rounded instead of flat. I asked my PS about it and he said that I am so skinny that the repair is more obvious in me. Is there anything I can do to flatten it out? Is this normal? I can feel where the repair is and there is no extra bulge when doing a sit up or a dip in. To me it's more rounded at the top then before surgery. The bottom is definitely better than it was.

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7 Doctor Answers | Asked by lotsobabies in mississippi

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Concern About Bulge After Tummy Tuck

I have been impressed that many bulges seen three months post surgery are gone in six to nine months post surgery. Therefore, when you ask "is this a normal situation?", the answer is that it is more common than you might imagine. Tummy tucks, and especially the correction of separated abdominal muscles, lead to significant swelling when these muscles are sewn together, and this swelling often takes many many months to resolve. The swelling you are referring to... more

Bulge after Tummy Tuck

Thank you for the question and pictures. Your plastic surgeon will be in the best position to give you good advice after direct examination. The “bulge” in the area you describe is most likely relative muscle laxity or subcutaneous adipose tissue. This can be differentiated best by physical examination. I would suggest continued follow-up with your plastic surgeon. Best wishes. see video

Upper abdominal bulge post tummy tuck

It is hard to see any significant deformity in the photos you have posted. The result looks quite good and acceptable to me. Expectations are everything in all cosmetic surgeries and it is hard to know what was discussed. Patients and doctors alike want perfectly flat abdomens, but this is not achievable in all cases. As a surgeon, some tissue will simply not hold in weak abdominal wall structures. Many patients don't realize the vast differences and variability in tissue... more

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Upper Abdominal Bulge After Tummy Tuck

The bulge seen above the belly button in the midline below the rib cage after a tummy tuck can occur for two reasons. The first is that the muscle repair may not have been done all the way up to just below the xiphoid process, the upper end of the fascial sutures may have slipped or become loose, or the fascial repair was not done as tight as it could have been in this area. This makes the area of maximal abdominal wall tightening at the belly button and below, creating a very flat... more

Is an Upper Abdominal Bulge Normal 3 Months Post-Op Full TT? (photo)

Your posted photos are underexposed so very hard to see any "buldge". Best to seek in person opinions to determine the cause and effect of your issue.

Concern about the appearance of upper abdomen following a tummy tuck

The limited views that you have displayed of your abdomen show a reasonable result with acceptable contours. A frontal view may be helpful in better discerning your issue. There may also be some residual swelling in the area that can take a few more months to fully abate.

Full upper abdomen after tummy tuck

Your abdomen is convex after your tummy tuck, though it just might be related to the shape of the lower chest. Many will have a flare of the rib margin, especially after pregnancy, though you are quite thin and flat across the lower chest giving the illusion of the abdominal bulge. Flat is relative after tummy tuck and based on what we can see, you look pretty well. Best of luck, peterejohnsonmd.com

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