I have VERY puffy upper and lower abdomen 15 days post full Tummy tuck (no lipo). Is this normal? (photos)

Question

I had my full tummy tuck two weeks ago yesterday. No lipo. At first I still had my waistline (I was very lean to begin with), but now I am completely swollen upper and lower abdomen. No sign of a waist. Is this normal? I completely trust my dr, but just want other opinions.

Kevin G. Rose, MD · Answer

It is normal at this stage to still be swollen.  We normally tell our patients to wait 3 months for the majority of swelling to be gone.  You look great, congrats on your surgery.

Ronald Schuster, MD · Answer

It is probably just swelling. You are very early into the healing. Hang in there and be patient. Good luck.

Adrian Richards, MBBS, MSc · Answer

Thank
you for your enquiry and photos.It is
quite usual to be slightly swollen at this stage but it may also be that you
have a slight fluid collection in your tummy.This can occur following surgery and you may well feel fluid moving from
side to side when you move.

I
think it would be worthwhile getting your surgeon to check you out to have a
look at the area and assess whether you have any fluid collection there.Normally your plastic surgeon would be more
than happy to see you at this stage to advise the best way forward.AR

Paul Whidden, MD · Answer

You certainly seems to be healing as expected. I tell my patients they will notice the majority of there swelling settle over the first 6 weeks however they will notice increased swelling throughout the day for about 3 months. Try not to worry as you are still very early in your healing. You look great and will do well given adequate time.

Tom J. Pousti, MD · Answer

I am sorry to hear about your concerns after tummy tuck surgery. As always, it is best to be seen in person ( by your plastic surgeon) for precise diagnosis and treatment. Generally speaking, abdominal wall "swelling" after tummy tuck may be related to:
1. Swelling in the soft tissues.  This may take several months to resolve and may worsen with increased activity  or at the end of the day.   Patience  is required to allow for resolution of the swelling. The swelling occurs because of the interruption of venous and lymphatic channels that occurs during the tummy tuck operation.
2. Fluid accumulation in the space between the skin and the abdominal wall muscle.  this may consist of blood ( hematoma)  or serum (seroma).  This fluid accumulation can generally be diagnosed by physical examination ( occasionally ultrasound  may be helpful).  Treatment consists of aspiration;  several episodes of aspiration may be necessary. 
3. Separation of the abdominal wall muscle repair may lead to a swelling/bulge appearance. This may be diagnosed on physical examination  with your surgeon examining you in different bodily positions. One of the steps of a tummy tuck procedure involves reapproximation (plication)  of the rectus muscles.  These muscles have spread apart during pregnancy and/or weight gain. Bringing them together again in the midline helps to “tighten” the abdominal wall as well as to narrow the waistline.
4. Residual adipose tissue may be confused for swelling. Again this is most easily diagnosed by physical examination. Additional liposuction surgery maybe necessary to improve the results of surgery.
Generally, it takes many months for swelling to resolve after tummy tuck surgery and it may take up to one year  (or greater)  a complete skin redraping  to occur.
I hope this helps.

Sugene Kim, MD, FACS · Answer

After tummy tuck, it is normal to have swelling for several weeks.  Most times, immediately after surgery, one may look better; then, as the swelling sets in for the following 1-2 weeks, he/she may look "worse."  Depending on the extent of surgery, the swelling may persist 1-3 months.  For my patients, I have them wear compression garment for 4-6 weeks.  Please follow your plastic surgeon's post-operative regimen.  Also follow-up with your surgeon to make sure that your swelling is normal post-op edema vs. fluid collection (seroma).  Good luck with your recovery.

Bruce Hermann, MD · Answer

Hello! Thanks for your question. If it's just swelling, then there's nothing to be concerned about; it will resolve with time. It's not unusual for people to get more swollen when they start feeling better and become more active. The important thing to know is if it truly is just swelling versus seroma (free fluid under the skin) which can occur after drains are removed. If you have seen your surgeon and they told you it was just swelling, then you just need to wait it out. If your surgeon hasn't seen you since this started, might be best to give them a call. Hope this helps.

Robert Savage, MD (retired) · Answer

As others expressed swelling is expected at this stage and always review concerns first and foremost with your surgeon who also did a nice job improving breast fullness and preoperatively asymmetry

George Lefkovits, MD - Account Suspended · Answer

From the photos it appears that you will have a very good result and the "puffiness" of your abdoemn is most likely swelling which is typical after a TT. But you should express any concerns to your PS and be appropriately followed up.

I have VERY puffy upper and lower abdomen 15 days post full Tummy tuck (no lipo). Is this normal? (photos)

Answers (9)

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